South Australian mother launches desperate search for life-saving bone marrow match

November 8, 2016

Tania Murphy is the mother of Taylah, seven and Kalan, four
She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in July, 2016
She was told she would need a bone marrow transplant to save her life
But there are no eligible donors with an ethnic heritage similar to her own
She has urged Australians to sign up to the registry to save lives

Laura House For Daily Mail Australia

Published:
22:40 EST, 7 November 2016

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Updated:
22:59 EST, 7 November 2016

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Tania Murphy, a mother-of-two from Port Elliot, South Australia, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in July, 2016.

The determined 42-year-old underwent three gruelling rounds of intense chemotherapy and was then told she would need a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

But there are no eligible donors on the registry.

Tania Murphy, a mother-of-two from Port Elliot, South Australia, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in July, 2016

The determined mum underwent three gruelling rounds of intense chemotherapy and was then told she would need a bone marrow transplant to save her life

As a result, Mrs Murphy has encouraged people to sign up to the bone marrow registry in a bid to save people in a similar situation to herself.

‘I was so shocked. All through this process I have been willing to take on the chemo and months in hospital, anything to get better for my husband and kids,’ Mrs Murphy said, who is mother to Taylah, seven and Kalan, four.

‘But now I am so powerless. I want people to know that going to their nearest blood bank and registering on the bone marrow registry could save my life.

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There are no eligible donors on the registry and Mrs Murphy has encouraged people to sign up to the bone marrow registry in a bid to save people in a similar situation to herself

‘I am so powerless. I want people to know that going to their nearest blood bank and registering on the bone marrow registry could save my life,’ she said

‘I need them to go now, I want to watch my kids grow up so badly.’

Mrs Murphy has a mixed heritage – her father is from the Balkans and her mother’s heritage is from the British Isles.

This makes finding her a match a challenge as ethnicity is one of the major factors in bone marrow donor matching.

But Australia’s bone marrow donors don’t reflect the ‘ethnic diversity of the population.’

Mrs Murphy has a mixed heritage – her father is from the Balkans and her mother’s heritage is from the British Isles… this makes finding her a match a challenge

HOW DO YOU DONATE BONE MARROW?

– If you’re between 18 and 45 years old, in good health, meet the eligibility criteria and are prepared to donate for anyone in the world, call the Australian Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95 to make an appointment to donate blood and join the registry

– The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is currently focused on increasing the ethnic diversity and youth of Australia’s donor base

– Please visit www.abmdr.org.au for more information, or to see how else you can help

Mrs Murphy is currently waiting to hear that the Australian Bone Marrow Registry has found a suitable donor.

Her family has launched a campaign, Find Tan a Donor, to assist the determined mother in her search and has since garnered more than 2,000 followers on Facebook.

They are asking any person in good health aged between 18 – 45 with mixed Balkan/British Isles heritage to visit their nearest Australian Red Cross Blood Service donor centre to register on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry as soon as possible.

‘If the cancer comes back, and I don’t have a donor, it’s basically death,’ Mrs Murphy told the ABC.

Mrs Murphy is currently waiting to hear that the Australian Bone Marrow Registry has found a suitable donor

On a mission: Her family has launched a campaign, Find Tan a Donor , to assist the determined mother in her search and has since garnered more than 2,000 followers on Facebook

Not only could this save Mrs Murphy’s life, but will help protect all Australians who have a similar heritage.

Mrs Murphy’s husband Kris, with whom she will celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary in December, said his wife is the ‘most vivacious and happy person I have ever known, she is the heart and soul of our little family.’

‘She has been so brave and positive about her treatment so far. We are really relying on people with Balkan/British Isles heritage to get on the bone marrow registry,’ he said.

‘Our kids are seven and four, they need their mum, and I need their mum too.’