A woman who received a stem cell donation finally met the German national who saved her life during an emotion reunion in Greenock.
Gillian Duffy, a football coach from the town, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2018. After an agonising two year wait for a matching donor on the Anthony Nolan stem cell register, she was paired with Kay-Uwe - a German volunteer firefighter who was listed on the DKMS donor list.
Gillian received the donation three years ago but, due to Covid restrictions and strict donor rules regarding contact, the pair were unable to meet before now.
Recently married Kay-Uwe travelled to Scotland with his wife Tina, in what was his first ever trip to the UK, and as well as meeting Gillian, he was keen to visit a fire station. The White Watch at Greenock Community Fire Station were happy to oblige and, with the help of Google Translate, they quickly found similarities and were soon comparing firefighter stories.
Kay-Uwe received a full tour of the station and he enjoyed seeing the appliances. The kind-hearted emergency responder, from the German city of Gera, gifted the station a Feuerwehr - a German Fire Brigade dress cap donated from the chief of his unit.
Gillian said: “The biggest thank you ever for arranging the visit to the fire station and the Fire Museum. Not only was I blown away by the generosity of giving up your time but also by the warmth I felt.
“It was really important to Kay-Uwe that part of his visit was spent at a fire station as he wanted to give his hat in friendship. He is so proud of the role he plays in keeping people safe, that he walked through the doors at the airport in his full uniform, hat included.
“He told me how welcome he felt and said there was so much from the visit that he could take back to his station in Gera. Kay- Uwe and I have a unique bond forever but it is also clear that the Fire Service worldwide has that bond too.
“Thank you for all you do that is seen and also unseen, never underestimate the difference that it makes to people.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service local senior officer, David McCarrey, said: “It was our absolute privilege to host Gillian and Kay-Uwe at Greenock Community Fire Station. The Service has a proud tradition of supporting the outstanding work of Anthony Nolan and this story shows how the charity gives hope and a second chance of life to so many blood cancer and blood disorder patients all across the world.”
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