Sister's thanks for lifesaving cause

AN ALN and inclusion practitioner from Swansea took part in this year’s Oysho Cardiff Half Marathon to raise money for the charity that helped her save her sister's life.

- IOLO GRIFFITHS Reporter

Olivia Melville-Jones, 28, was running for her 22-year-old sister Charlotte after she donated her bone marrow to her six years ago to raise money for Latch - the charity that helped Charlotte through her lifesaving treatment.

Olivia said: “Charlotte first became ill in the summer of 2018, she was feeling very fatigued and kept getting colds. Soon after she became jaundice and doctors identified there was something wrong with her liver function. She was transferred from Swansea to the liver specialist unit in Birmingham.

“At first, they weren’t sure why this was happening but further tests - including bloods and a bone marrow biopsy - revealed her red and white blood cells were abnormally low and there was something wrong with her marrow.”

Charlotte was diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia, a rare blood disease. Her condition was so severe, it meant she needed to have chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.