We saved two strangers' lives in memory of Mum

WHEN leukaemia patient Liz Wilkinson needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant, her son and his girlfriend wanted to help.

- Lucy Laing

Elliott and Emily got tested but, unfortunately, neither was a suitable match.

Liz did receive a transplant from an anonymous donor but later died.

So Emily and Elliott decided to donate their bone marrow to save the lives of two strangers, as a tribute to Elliott's mother.

Emily, 24, of Liverpool, said: "Some good has come out of losing Liz. Neither of us were able to save her but in her memory we have saved the lives of two strangers."

Emily met up with her recipient - Kary this summer, when Kary flew over from the US to meet her. Emily said: "It was amazing to meet her. The transplant has given her the chance to see her family grow up. If Liz hadn't gone through what she went through we wouldn't have been able to save Kary."

After Liz was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2018 her chances of survival were set at 20 per cent without a bone marrow transplant. Emily said: "It was such a shock. Her diagnosis came out of the blue. It was rare for her to be diagnosed as it is more common in children."

Both Emily and Elliott signed up to the Anthony Nolan register but, sadly, were not a match.