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In April, 26-year-old Sławek, a firefighter from Kunów, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. The struggle for each day of my life began. Today it is known that his only chance for recovery is a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor. Unfortunately – among more than 30 million registered people all over the world there is no “genetic twin” of it. The only chance is to find a donor among people who are not yet registered. And Sławek has someone to live for! Together with his wife, they are waiting for a daughter who will be born in July.
It started with a cold
At the beginning of April, Sławek, together with his colleagues from the Stargard fire department, donated blood. All the results were very good. Later came a cold. The family doctor referred the man for a blood test which showed a very low level of platelets. Sławek was taken to the hospital, where a bone marrow biopsy was performed. Diagnosis – acute myeloid leukemia. The only chance for the man’s recovery is a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor. However, the search for a “genetic twin” in a database of over 30 million people did not bring the result … Unfortunately, it sometimes happens. Human genotype is complex, so the chances of finding a compatible donor are at best 1: 20, and in exceptional cases even 000 to several million. This is why new donors are needed!
Suddenly everything changed 180 degrees
Before Sławek fell ill with leukemia, it seemed that he was in the best moment of his life. Two years ago, she got a job that she had dreamed of since she was a child – she became a professional firefighter of the State Fire Service in Stargard. Last year he married his beloved Dorota. Now his wife is 2 months pregnant – Laura will be born in July, for whom the young couple is waiting very much. Suddenly everything turned 8 degrees. I spend the beautiful time waiting for my daughter’s birth on a hospital bed. My passions? I am a professional firefighter, I love my job – I like helping others. I often play football with my friends and I’m interested in the automotive industry – says Sławek about himself.
Register and give Sławek a chance to meet his daughter
The man’s family and friends are organizing campaigns and looking for potential bone marrow donors for the 26-year-old. Firemen, policemen and rescuers got involved in it. Every generally healthy person, aged 18-55, weighing more than 50 kg and not significantly overweight, can register as a donor of bone marrow and stem cells. Registration actions for Sławek will take place this weekend in Starogard. You can also register online: www.dkms.pl/karol. The DKMS Foundation will send the registration package to the address indicated by the registrant, you only need to fill it in and send it back to the Foundation’s address.
Sławek is now in a clinic in Szczecin, where he is receiving chemotherapy. However, she does not give up and in moments of better well-being, she searches the Internet for everything that will be needed for the long-awaited baby girl. – My dream is the birth of my daughter Laura and raising her. I would like to watch him grow up, help with homework, observe first loves – says Sławek. Let’s help him make his dream come true.