Emotional teen surprised by stem cell donor who saved his life in poignant moment

A teenager thanked his stem cell donor for "another chance to live" as he rang the bell at the end of his cancer treatment. In an emotional first-ever encounter, George Shaw, 15, was surprised by Kimmy Strelley as he celebrated the landmark moment.

Kimmy, 38, a hairdresser, anonymously donated her stem cells to George via a bone marrow transplant in December 2021. She was found to be one of only a small number of perfect matches worldwide.

Only two percent of the UK population is signed up to the aligned stem cell register. But the pair will now have a lifelong bond; although George's hair, skin and saliva will always be made of his genetic fingerprint, his blood will now always show Ms Strelley's DNA.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common leukaemia in children. George, from Nottingham, had a very rare form which made it highly aggressive and resistant to standard chemotherapy.

His stem cell transplant at Sheffield Children's Foundation Trust was his only chance of life. Kimmy was traced with the help of stem cell charity Anthony Nolan, after George's twin brother was found not to be a match.

Donors and recipients must remain anonymous during the treatment process. But they can write to one another, which Ms Strelley and George did before meeting for the first time at the bell ceremony. George said: "You're awake when you have the transplant, and I can remember a strong smell of sweetcorn.

"It's been a complicated and tricky time but the doctors and nurses have all been amazing and throughout the experience I've always had the mindset of just cracking on so I could get back to being myself.

"Life is so much better now, and it's been brilliant to meet Kimmy. She's given me another chance to live and meant that moments like today can happen."

Kimmy added: "I was so excited to be given the chance to donate but I also felt a lot of responsibility because I really cared about helping the person I was donating to.

"I didn't know it was George then, but I really hoped it had worked. I always say that I'm only one piece in the puzzle of George's recovery and having the chance to donate to help him has been the best experience. Being here three years later, I just feel so proud of George. I think everyone should sign up to the register."

George, named after the IVF consultant who helped his parents conceive after 20 years, lives in Nottingham with mum Christine, dad Steven and twin brother Stephen, as well as their five .

He is now looking forward to playing 'lots of' football. Kimmy, of Flitton, Beds., was accompanied to the bell-ringing ceremony by her young son Jake. She was doing body building when she donated, and was fully recovered and back in the gym within a few weeks of the procedure.

Before his transplant, George had to have CAR-T cell therapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. It involves removing T cells from the body and altering them in a lab so that they can attack cancer cells when they are returned to the body.

This meant that George's body was in the best place possible for the transplant procedure. Dr Katharine Patrick, consultant paediatric haematologist at Sheffield Children's Hospital, said: "Caring for patients like George is a huge privilege.

"George has always been an absolute delight and embraced everything that's come his way. He's had such a positive mindset towards his recovery and couldn't wait to get back to his active lifestyle.

"I'm so pleased to see that he's playing football again and able to do the things he loves, including abseiling off a railway bridge to raise an amazing £1,600 for the Children's Hospital Charity."

Dr Patrick added: "Whenever bone marrow arrives here from an unknown donor it's amazing to think that a caring stranger has donated it the day before. There really are very few opportunities in life to save another person's life but that is exactly what Kimmy has done for George."

Eleanor Leaney, stem cell manager at the hospital, said that donors like Kimmy gave patients with blood cancers and blood disorders a second chance at life, continuing the pioneering work started by Shirley Nolan 50 years ago this year.

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"I hope seeing George and Kimmy will encourage lots of people to sign up to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register so that more patients like George can survive and thrive."

The Anthony Nolan stem cell register can be found at