Pontypool RFC is urgently calling on supporters aged 17-55 who are in general good health to register to become a blood stem cell donor with DKMS following Ethan Davies’ courageous announcement that he has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In February 2022, Ethan started experiencing signs of thrombocytopenia (deficiency of platelets in the blood), which doctors assumed at the time was caused by a viral infection. After a short course of medication, it was assumed that the condition was resolved as his platelet count had returned to a healthy level.
The low platelet count resurfaced in June, worse than before, accompanied by a very sore ‘stomach’ after eating, so he was put back on a course of steroids and immunoglobulin, though this time they had little effect.
It was only when presenting at A&E in July and being given a CT scan that doctors realised Ethan’s spleen had enlarged to twice its normal size, and he was admitted for testing to discover a root cause. After various blood and bone marrow tests and further scans, Ethan was diagnosed with the blood cancer Hepatosplenic T cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Delays in receiving the full results of his bone marrow biopsy meant that Ethan had to wait a number of weeks between the first, partial diagnosis and starting treatment. He started his first round of intensive chemotherapy on 23rdAugust.
Ethan will need further chemotherapy and a blood stem cell transplant from a donor later this year and this is where the club is calling on supporters who meet the criteria to register to become a donor with DKMS by visiting: https://www.dkms.org.uk/register-now.
Ethan’s family and Pontypool RFC are also making preparations to host a donor registration event at Pontypool Park prior to one of the club’s home WRU National Championship fixtures in September. Further details surrounding the event will be announced in due course.
Ethan is a highly respected and valued member of Pontypool RFC’s squad and we will do everything possible as a club to support Ethan and his family during this incredibly difficult time.
Please play your part and register today if you can.
