Essex heart attack survivor Mattew Allick will make an emotional visit to NHS Blood and Transplant’s (NHSBT) West End donor centre on 31 July, to share his story and thank staff for providing the service that gave him a second chance at life.
The visit comes two years after the then fit and healthy 40-year-old Ealing Council worker suffered a massive heart attack caused by a pulmonary embolism.
The father of two will tell NHSBT staff that after collapsing with a cardiac arrest that left him clinically dead – without a heartbeat or breathing – for several minutes before medics resuscitated him and placed him in a coma. An MRI scan later revealed blood clots in his heart and lungs.
During the emergency treatment Matthew received seven blood transfusions, which he credits with saving his life. Now he wants to share his story to raise awareness of the importance of giving blood, especially among Black heritage communities.
As a Black heritage patient needing multiple blood transfusions, Mathew became aware that his chances of fighting back to health would be improved by receiving matched blood from Black heritage donors.
Although the blood used to treat Matthew’s emergency situation came from a range of donors of different ethnicities, the need for more Black heritage donors to come forward to provide ethnically matched blood to treat a range of conditions from maternity care and routine operations, to sickle cell disease is well established.
There is an urgent need for donors with the Ro blood subtype. Ro blood is often used to treat the country’s fasting growing inherited blood disorder, sickle cell disease, which is more prevalent in Black heritage communities.
Ro blood is ten times more common in Black heritage people than the white population. Only 2% of all blood donors have the Ro type blood, so collecting enough is a constant challenge.
After two years of gruelling rehabilitation that saw Matthew relearn the basics of life, from feeding himself to walking, he is keen to inspire others who face similar recovery challenges.
Matthew said: “Without blood transfusions I wouldn’t be here today. The left side of my body was filled with clots. Having the right blood ready and waiting gave me a second chance at life.
“We often don’t realise how critical blood donation is until we’re on the receiving end. Someone’s decision to give blood saved my life. And that’s what I want more people to realise.”
NHSBT West End donor centre manager Carolyn Roost said: “Matthew’s visit is a wonderful reminder of the acute relevance of NHSBT’s work and I’d like to thank him for sharing his personal story. I know it will touch each and every one of the team and drive their commitment even more to collect blood.
“His visit puts a face to many thousands of people a year whose lives have been saved and improved by the generosity of the capital’s blood donors.
“Giving blood is quick and easy and as Matthew’s experience proves, it saves lives. Book an appointment to give blood. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk.”
NHSBT Chief Nursing Officer Dee Thiruchelvam said “I’d like to thank all of London’s blood donors who regularly roll up their sleeves to give blood. Without your generosity Matthew wouldn’t be here today, and his children wouldn’t have their father.
“To keep pace with the increased demand for ethnically matched blood for a range of health conditions including sickle cell it is vitally important London’s Black communities come forward in greater numbers to help patients like Matthew.
“We need an additional 16,000 Black heritage blood donors this year. Men can give blood every 12 weeks while women can give blood every 16 weeks.
“To ensure the nation has sufficient blood stocks, existing donors should give blood regularly and I urge prospective donors to make an appointment today to do something remarkable and give blood.”
