How blood saved Son's life and inspired Father to give back

"It was watching the sheer amount of blood and platelets my son Tom received during his cancer treatment that made me realise I needed to give something back," recalls Father, Simon who is campaigning this Father's Day with his son to encourage more people to donate blood, platelets, or stem cell.

At just four months old, on Christmas Eve 2000, Tom Pugh, from Bridgend, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. Due to fears his condition would worsen, the doctors took urgent action and started an aggressive course of chemotherapy on Christmas Day at Llandough Hospital.

Reflecting on his son's experience, Simon, Tom's father said, "For such a small person we couldn't believe just how many blood products he needed. The difference it made was amazing; each donation he received literally brought him back to life. This is what made me realise I wanted to give back, to help children like my son.

During treatment, Tom required multiple transfusions to keep him alive, which were only available thanks to the generosity of donors giving blood and platelets.

"He simply wouldn't be here without the NHS, the Welsh Blood Service and the people who donate. I'm eternally grateful to those selfless individuals who helped save my son's life, and I'm incredibly proud too to call myself a donor. I hope I've helped someone in the same way someone helped our family," Simon added.

Thankfully, at the end of his second treatment, Tom's cancer went into remission and he made a full recovery. Tom is now a 24-years-old Cardiff University graduate and works as a Sustainability Consultant for a company in Whitchurch.

Recalling his experience, Tom explains, "Being so young I didn’t realise what a traumatic time it was for my family but looking back now I can't imagine how scared they must have been after they received my diagnosis. With the help of the NHS and Welsh Blood Service donors I’m fit and healthy, making the most of every opportunity. I owe a huge debt of gratitude for the kindness and generosity to everyone who helped me recover.”

Tom and Simon now enjoy a typical family life and are looking forward to spending their latest Father's Day together over a Sunday lunch with the rest of their family.

Welsh Blood Service Director, Alan Prosser, said, “Sharing stories like Tom and Simon's highlights the true value of blood donation and the difference it makes, not just to the person receiving the transfusion, but also to their family. The need for blood never stops as Tom's Father, Simon, witnessed firsthand.”

The chemotherapy treatment put Tom's cancer into remission, but for some blood cancer patients, their only hope is to receive a stem cell transplant.

Alan continued, “We are busy recruiting more people aged 16 to 30 or 16 to 45 if they are from a black, Asian, mixed or minority ethnic background to join our volunteer stem cell donor registry. They can do this by either providing an additional blood sample when donating blood or by requesting a home-delivered swab kit through our website.

"Unfortunately, when it comes to stem cell donations, three in ten patients here in the UK do not find the suitable match they desperately need and that statistic is are even higher for donors, seven in ten, for patients from a black, Asian, mixed or minority ethnic background. We want to improve those odds."

More people than ever before can now join Welsh Blood Service's stem cell registry to help patients overcome blood cancers and blood disorders. To find out more or to book a lifesaving blood donation, visit welshblood.org.uk.