A DONOR has been found for Jennifer Wilson, the Lancaster mum whose only hope of recovery from a rare form of leukaemia is a bone marrow transplant.

It is the news Jennifer has long been waiting for, and she is now preparing to return to Manchester's Christie Hospital tomorrow (Friday) after three weeks at home with husband Chris and son Ted, above.

"I have mixed feelings," admits the 35-year-old. "I am really happy I have a donor because that could be the cure I need, but it is also frightening.

"I know I am going back to hospital and that I will be very ill; I will be sick, tired and lose weight. My head says great I have a transplant, this is my cure' but my heart is thinking I will be going through it all again, away from my home and my family."

And Chris says: "Like Jennifer, I feel trepi-dation at what's to come, especially be-cause she's well at the moment. But it is the only known long-term cure."

Jennifer only knows that the donor a near-perfect match - is from the UK, but it could be one of hundreds of local people who joined the Anthony Nolan Trust register of donors at two special clinics following a Citizen appeal to help her.

"A lot of people have put themselves out and I'd love to be able to thank every one of them personally.

"Even people I don't know have sent me books to read in hospital. I feel very humble," she says.

She also paid tribute to Ted's school, Christchurch Primary, as absolutely wonderful' for its care and support during the ordeal

Jennifer will receive chemo and radiotherapy before the transplant a process similar to a blood transfusion due to take place on Good Friday.

"It is a waiting game," she says.

"I will be given stem cells, then after 14 days doctors expect to see signs that my body has accepted the transplant - and all the time I will be are receiving treatment."

Jennifer will stay in hospital for about six weeks, after which doctors will regularly check to see whether her body has accepted the donor bone marrow.

April 10, 2003 08:30