Four-year-old Etta Murton is alive today thanks to blood donors who helped her fight off a rare form of leukaemia.
The youngster was diagnosed with T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in September 2022 when she was just 20 months’ old.
Etta needed between 10 to 15 units of blood and platelets to help her stay strong and recover from the impacts of her chemotherapy.
Mum Becky – donors are ‘lifesavers’
Her mum Becky, 33, from Needham Market, near Ipswich in Suffolk, said: “Last Easter Etta was receiving intensive chemotherapy, only coming home from hospital very briefly before needing to return for a blood transfusion.
“Thankfully, this year Etta has finished her treatment and will hopefully be able to spend Easter at home with her family and making happy memories together.”
Becky praised the ‘lifesavers’ who donated the ‘incredible gift’ of blood which Etta needed to survive.
Etta’s mum Becky, who is a former NHS phlebotomist (someone who draws blood from patients) and an O-positive donor herself, said: “To anyone thinking of donating blood, it’s super simple to sign up and book an appointment.
“With Etta’s condition, people always ask: ‘what can I do to help?’, and I always say: ‘Donate blood!’ It’s the most incredible gift and people who donate blood are nothing but lifesavers.”
Etta handed out Easter eggs
This week, Etta and Becky visited a blood donation session in Ipswich, close to where they live, to thank blood donors. Etta handed out easter eggs to staff and donors.
NHS Blood and Transplant said blood stocks are often dip around public holidays as it called on donors to book appointments over the Easter period.
People with O negative and B negative blood types are particularly needed over the coming weeks.
There also remains an ongoing need for more donors of black heritage to help patients with sickle cell who need ethnically matched blood.
Ongoing need for more blood donations
Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood Supply, at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “Like Etta and her family, we would like to thank all our blood donors. However, as the need for blood never stops, I urge both new and returning donors to book their next appointment today.”
Hospitals across England need over 5,000 blood donations every day to ensure they have the blood they need to treat patients for wide variety of reasons – from traumatic injuries or accidents, cancer treatments, sickle cell and childbirth. However, blood has a shelf life of 35 days and platelets only seven days so its vital stocks are constantly replenished.
Across the country there are still thousands of appointments available to fill over coming weeks, with greatest availability at donor centres situated in major towns and cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Bradford, Cambridge and Luton.
Donating a unit of blood takes just an hour and each donation can save up to three lives.
To book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 to find your nearest session. Platelets can be donated at donor centres across the country.
