Stem cell transplant for leukaemia dad

A father fighting leukaemia was set to undergo a potentially life-saving blood stem cell transplant at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford this week.

Chris Maury, of Lowbrook Drive, Cox Green, was told last month he would be having a transplant last after doctors confirmed they had found a stem cell match with newborn babies in America and France.

During the past seven days the software engineer, who works for Nortel, has been undergoing debilitating rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to prepare his body for the 'umbilical cord' stem cells.

The outcome of the transplant will not be known for some weeks as the father-of-two recovers from his ordeal, but doctors have told him there is a 41 per cent chance he could be fully cured.

Chris was diagnosed with the rare strain of leukaemia in February, after complaining to his GP of sore muscles.

An appeal is also being made by Anthony Nolan Trust to sign up to the bone marrow register in Slough tomorrow.

The donor recruitment session is being organised at People 1st Slough Offices in Langley Road, Slough, between 11.00am and 2.00pm (July 24).

For more information visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 0207 2841234.