Rachel’s Story

In October 2019, 18-year-old Rachel was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, while she was in her second year at the University of Aberdeen studying Pharmacology and Immunology. Over the next three and a half years, Rachel went through many intensive treatments, including a bone marrow transplant and too many rounds of chemotherapy to count. Both AML and its treatments cause the number of blood cells (including white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets) to decrease, meaning Rachel relied on regular blood transfusions. Without these transfusions, her treatment would not have been possible. This was particularly true during her bone marrow transplant, where people stop producing any blood cells at all for a period of several weeks. During this time, Rachel was completely reliant on donated blood to survive.

Rachel’s dad, James, said:

“A cancer diagnosis will obviously cause major upheaval for the patient and all those close to them. When AML was confirmed, it took a while for us as her parents to fully come to terms with what was happening. We had so many questions, how could we have failed her in this way? Rachel was her usual brilliant self, giving details of what was happening to her blood, the treatment, the statistics, the likely prognosis. We were exceptionally fortunate in being able to be with her through stays at various hospitals, observing the rollercoaster ride of chemotherapy – from her optimism and hope, to fatigue and exhaustion, as the treatment killed her cells. In these busy days and long nights, seeing the true magic of blood transfusions was enlightening, where packs of platelets stopped bruise like rashes and excessive bleeding, and full blood donations gave Rachel a boost of energy and strength. The highlight was always after these transfusions that were keeping her alive, and had given her the weeks for her bone marrow to recover – the glint in her eye returning, the cheeky smile.

If you are able to, giving blood is one of the most generous selfless things you can do. We have seen at first-hand the treatments it facilitates, the recovery it enables, the hope it provides, and the eternal gratitude of the recipient and their friends and family.”

Rachel sadly passed away in May this year, but the hundreds transfusions she received over three and a half years gave her the energy and ability to do what was important to her during her treatment. This included adopting a beloved rescue dog called Ollie, completing her degree and graduating from the University of Aberdeen, raising awareness of blood cancer online, as well as having adventures around the Highlands with her loved ones. In honour of what would have been her 23rd birthday on the 18th of December, her friends and family are partnering with Give Blood 4 Good to organise a blood drive to encourage people to donate blood, so that others can benefit from the same treatments that Rachel did. We would be so grateful to everyone who donates blood in her memory.

To book your donation in memory of Rachel, please follow the link below to pledge. Once you have completed this quick form, you will be taken to the Scotblood website to book your appointment:

At Give Blood 4 Good, we’re honoured to be able to help Rachel’s family organise this blood drive in her memory. We hope that as many people as possible will consider getting involved in this blood drive.