When Paul Carlin, a fit young Co Tyrone man faced a third battle with cancer, his four younger brothers immediately stepped in to help.
Paul, 35, from Strabane, is currently receiving treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, an illness that he has faced down twice before.
Despite receiving the all-clear 13 years earlier, last October Paul was devastated to learn the disease had come back.
He was just 18 when first diagnosed with the cancer, which then returned three years later.
Paul, who had settled and made a new life for himself in Manchester, returned home following his latest diagnosis.
After seven months of chemotherapy at Altnagelvin Hospital, Paul was told the next stage of treatment for him was a stem cell transplant.
Determined to help, Paul's four brothers all put themselves forward to be tested as a donor, but only one, Conor (31), was a tissue match.
“Paul had a stem cell transplant before when he was 18, and with having had chemo he was told the chances of getting enough stem cells from himself were slim to none, so each of us as brothers all decided to get tested,” Conor told Belfast Live.
“Each brother had a 20% chance of being a match, and thankfully I was that match.
“All of us were willing to put ourselves through the wringer for Paul so we were delighted that it worked out.”
Earlier this year Conor and his teammates at Strabane Athletic Football Club launched a major fundraising campaign to assist the family with the medical expenses they face as Paul undergoes intensive treatment.
A GoFundMe page was set up and donations soon began to pour in, with thousands raised within the first week of being launched.
Fundraising events to help with Paul’s treatment, travel, medicines and accommodation included a 5k walk/run and several raffles.
Thanks to the generosity of the people of Strabane, they eventually raised more than £31,000.
“It’s impossible to put into words the huge love and support we as a family have received from the people of Strabane. The town has really come out and supported us in this and we are very humbled,” Conor added.
Paul is now waiting to undergo the treatment in Belfast after Conor underwent his stem cell harvest at the City Hospital on Monday.
For Conor, when it came to helping out his big brother, there was no hesitation.
“I found out in June that I was the match. It was a no-brainer to help Paul in this latest battle and anyone else would do the same,” he said.
“You’d do it for a stranger if you were told they were a match, never mind your older brother.
“Paul talked me through the whole process so I just wanted to have it done so we can hopefully get him on the road to recovery.
“He had some scans last week and he's just waiting now for this next step to be called if he gets the all-clear.
“It has all happened very quickly for me in terms of getting the call for my medical, then the self-injections and being called up for the stem cell harvest, all within two weeks.
“My stems cells are there now and ready to go so I hope it will be a quick and successful process for Paul too,” Conor explained.
“I have been warned by the doctors that if Paul's body rejects my stem cells, it's not my fault and not to blame myself as it's all down to fate.
“The last time Paul had a transplant they were his own stem cells but this time they will be a foreign object in his body. Until his body fights with and accepts the new stem cells from me, he could be sick for a longer period than he's anticipating.
“There is a chance of rejection and having to look elsewhere again so as a family now we are just hoping and praying it all goes to plan. I have to prepare myself for that possible outcome so I won't feel fully relieved until we get good news,” he added.
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