Sharon McCloskey received the phone call of her dreams today - informing her that her stem cell match has been found.
The 43-year-old, from Lagmore, was working as a chef at Stranmillis College when she was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago after feeling extremely tired.
Since her call for help 10,000 people signed up on-line to donate stem cells and a further 3,000 people registered at the events organised for Sharon by her Save Our Sunflower campaign team.
Sharon received a phone called from Dublin today with the incredible news that a 90% match has been found.
And it is believed, despite warnings that Sharon’s tissue type is very rare and would require a global search, that the match is one of the people who responded to her plea for help.
Sharon said: “I don’t have enough words to explain how thankful I am.
“More than 13,000 people registered to get tested as a donor after I asked for help. I needed just one and this morning I got a call from a Dublin saying my one had been found.
“My emotions are all over the place. The best thing is telling the kids and then sitting with my husband Alan and doing a wee video for our Facebook page.
“This is a 90% match which is fantastic. There’s work ahead of us but we are now going in the right direction and I couldn’t be more grateful or happy.
“To the person whose stem cells will be waiting for me, thank you, thank you, thank you.
“I didn’t know who I needed to help me and you didn’t know if you could, but you have it a go and here we are.
“And thousands of people have added their names to the Anthony Nolan and DKMS registers and I hope many more will continue.
“A simple swab test is literally life saver.
“I found out around 1.30pm today.
“I can’t believe it. As you know I’m not sure who the donor is or where they’re from and right now they probably don’t realise what they have just done for me my husband and our three wee boys.
“I hope they read this soon and see my thank yous.
“I keep crying but these are tears of absolute happiness and gratitude. “
A post on the 'Save our Sunflower Campaign' Facebook page, set up by Sharon's family and friends thanked everyone for their help so far.
It read: "Our sunflower has been saved.
"Sharon has just had the call she has been waiting for.
"The search for that beautiful and special stranger has been successful. Our search is now over.
"Thanking all of you amazing caring people just is not enough.
"You guys have been with us every single step of the way and we will be eternally grateful."
Rebecca Sedgwick, National Register Development Manager for Anthony Nolan, said: "It’s fantastic to hear that a donor has been found for Sharon and her transplant can now go ahead. Sharon along with her friends and family have inspired an incredible number of people to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell register.
"Sadly, not everyone can find a lifesaving match but by joining the Anthony Nolan register – which is a simple process – you could change the life of someone like Sharon. Without you there is no cure."
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