Evangelos Paschalis’ life was completely normal until a month ago, when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia; an aggressive type of cancer that affects the blood.

After experiencing intense fatigue and noticing severe rashes and bruises on his legs, he decided to see a doctor for a check-up. Evangelos, 36, was diagnosed with a rampant form of leukaemia and has been undergoing gruelling chemotherapy treatments since.

Unfortunately, no match has been found yet, although the request has been passed to the global bone marrow bank. Meanwhile, doctors are now giving him a life span from two to three months, unless he finds a compatible bone marrow donor.

According to the hospital, it is more likely for a donor of Greek origin to be compatible with Vangelis, therefore, the family is appealing to the Greek community of Australia. Any potential donor who is willing to give a stem cell sample should know that the process is not time consuming and does not have risks for the donor.

“We are asking for your help, to save our son, partner and father. Anyone of Greek origin willing to be tested, men and women between the age of 18 and 45 years, please go to a hospital as soon as possible. It takes up to three weeks to get the results. Every day that goes by counts. Every day that goes by takes away Evangelos’ life,” his mother, Haido Paschali, tells Neos Kosmos.

“This is our last, our only hope.”

From the day the diagnosis was determined, Evangelos Paschalis hasn’t left the hospital, but he was forced to leave his job at a computer company. His partner Lynn had taken a maternity leave when their nine-month-old daughter Chloe was born and hasn’t left his side. The outlook of the family’s financial situation has taken a significant downturn.

“Out of nowhere, he experienced extreme fatigue and weakness. My son was a strong, healthy man. We expected some good news after the chemo but his body had no positive response to it.

The treatment did not work and he got even weaker,” his mother says.

Doctors, having weighed the down sides, estimate that given his condition, it is not wise to put him through another treatment, more stress and side effects. His only chance is a stem cell transplant.

“We’ve put all our hopes into the goodness in people. I hope a donor will be found soon, and my son can go back to being the loving father and vibrant person he’s always been,” Mrs Paschali says.
“I thank anyone who will get tested in advance.”

It is imperative that you tell the nurses at whichever blood clinic you make the donation to that you want to go on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. This will ensure that stem cells from your donation will be tested to see if your blood is a potential match for Evangelos as well as for so many other people in this situation.

This could happen to anyone. A simple blood test to determine your tissue type, which is used to match donors and patients, is not much of a sacrifice.

In Australia, only 1 in 1,500 donors will be asked to donate stem cells in a year, though every year, thousands of people are diagnosed with leukaemia or other life threatening blood disorders.

According to the Australian Red Cross, donations are taken in all major cities – there is no need to travel interstate. You may opt out of donation at any time, except one week prior to the donation as at this point in time the patient’s own bone marrow would have been destroyed and they would die without the transplant.

Peripheral blood stem cell donation is simple; takes three to four hours and there is no need for a general anaesthetic. A small injection is given daily for four days prior to donation. Blood is collected from a vein in your arm, and passes through a cell separator machine which removes the stem cells and the remaining blood is returned to your body. You can make an appointment online at www.donateblood.com.au

The best Christmas present you can give yourself is to give someone their life.

For more information visit The Leukaemia Foundation website at www.leukaemia.com or call 1800 620 420

To donate, contact the Australian Bone Marrow Registry by visiting the website abmdr.org.au or calling 131495.

You can also contact Evangelos’ sister Chrisa on 0410194924 for any questions.