UKZN lecturer in urgent need of a stem cell donor

Dr Andrew Ross, a lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and devoted family man, has been given six to 15 months to live after being diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare type of blood cancer.

Now, he’s fighting for a second chance at life and urgently requires a stem cell donor for a transplant.

A long-time blood donor, Dr Ross’s world was turned upside down in March when a routine blood donation revealed alarmingly low haemoglobin levels.

“The finger prick test raised concerns,” said DKMS, a non-profit organisation fighting against blood cancer.

“Further tests, including a bone marrow biopsy, confirmed the diagnosis of high-risk MDS, a condition that disrupts the normal production of blood cells in the bone marrow.”

For Dr Ross, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is the only hope for survival. Without it, doctors estimate his time is tragically short.

“The diagnosis has been devastating,” Dr Ross said.

“It’s news you can never prepare for. But instead of dwelling on the time I may not have, I’m choosing to turn this into a mission.”

Determined to raise awareness about the lifesaving power of stem cell transplants, Dr Ross has inspired a campaign that is spreading across social media, with his students leading the charge. The result has been an incredible outpouring of support, with more than 600 people registering as stem cell donors in the hope of saving his life.

Palesa Mokomele, head of community engagement and communications at DKMS Africa, praised Dr Ross’s selflessness.

“Dr Ross has spent his life caring for others, and now he urgently needs help. We call on all healthy South Africans between the ages of 17 and 55 to register as stem cell donors. You could be the one to save his life.”

To register as a donor and potentially help Dr Ross beat blood cancer, visit https://www.dkms-africa.org/register-now. For more information, contact DKMS Africa on 0800 12 10 82.