A woman from America is the stem cell donor who saved the life of Fife schoolgirl Ava Stark.
Six-year-old Ava, of Lochgelly, who was diagnosed with bone marrow failure at the age of three, had a stem cell transplant in November 2016 after a widespread appeal for as many people as possible to sign up with the Anthony Nolan charity as potential donors.
Two years after the procedure, the family was allowed to write to the anonymous donor to thank them for saving their little girl’s life.
And now mum Marie, 36, has revealed they know who Ava’s “hero” is.
Marie said: “We have been told our letter was passed on, which took us a few months to write. Not because of the size but because of what we wanted to say.
“We wanted that one letter to give as much detail as possible but without giving away names, ages, location, gender. We wanted them to know whatever they decided after that contact was 100% OK.
“We wanted them to know how absolutely amazing and special they are, how one decision changed our whole world.”
Marie said the family was fully aware that the donor may only want to make limited contact and she is keeping her identity secret, only revealing Ava’s stem cells came from a woman in America – the Anthony Nolan charity is part of an international network of donor registers.
She added: “We got contact details and have now officially put together the special scrapbook we will make and send to her – it’s a lovely lady who is our hero. We need this to be amazing so have instructed some friends and family for info and help.
“We know that after sending this it might be the only chance we get. We aren’t going into this with blinkers on.
“We know people might not want full on contact, we know families are very different so this one thing must be special and if they decide that was enough for them we will still love them all the same.
“They gave us extra time, extra laughs, extra cuddles with Ava and that will never be taken away.
“At this moment we can only let everyone know she is female and lives in America.”
In 2016, Ava’s story touched the hearts of the nation with more than 80,000 people registering to help.
Bone marrow failure meant her body was unable to produce blood cells and she relied on blood and platelet transfusions to stay alive.
Following a series of heartbreaks, a match was eventually found and she underwent the transplant on November 25 that year.
