Marathon mum paid in blood by sponsors
Published: June 8, 2005
A miracle baby’s mother who is running in the Edinburgh Marathon has helped sign up 300 sponsors to donate a pint of blood instead of cash.
Euan Stembridge, now 11 months old, was left fighting for his life because of a rare blood condition and underwent three transfusions in the womb.
He only survived when two donors with the rare rhesus blood type came forward and made donations which saved him.
Now his relieved parents Kay and John, of Polwarth, have hatched a blood drive with a difference.
The couple helped sign up 30 friends to run in Sunday’s marathon and together they have collected hundreds of sponsors willing to part with a pint.
Mrs Stembridge, 39, said: “Myself and my friend Mary were running in the marathon anyway and we came up with the idea of people donating blood rather than money. We thought it would be a bit different but also hugely important.
“Euan needed quite a few transfusions while he was still in the womb and then again after he was born. It left him very ill initially and really made us aware of how essential donors are. Euan could have suffered brain damage or even died without a match.
“When you have an accident or you’re ill, there is an expectation that the supplies will be sitting there waiting for you. But that’s not the case. The blood has to be fresh so they need constant donations.”
Mrs Stembridge was found to have high levels of three blood group antibodies in her blood at the end of her pregnancy with daughter, Kirsty, now five.
One of the antibodies, anti D, can damage a baby’s red blood cells, leading to a condition called haemolytic disease of the newborn. The concentration of antibodies in Mrs Stembridge’s blood resulted in Euan being diagnosed with anaemia while still in his mother’s womb. He needed the three blood transfusions in the womb to keep him alive.
However, he still required further donations immediately after his birth and only one unit was found in the whole of Scotland.
Euan’s delivery, which was six weeks’ premature, had to be delayed for two days until a second donor was found. Then, by chance, the correct donor walked into the Edinburgh Blood Donor Centre at Lauriston Place and a match was found.
Mrs Stembridge, a midwife who also has another daughter Anna, ten, with teacher husband John, 38, said: “Euan is very healthy now but it has made us think about how much fresh supplies of blood are needed.
“The staff at the centre have said Christmas and the summer holidays are when stocks can get low.
“We hope that many of the sponsors will become regular donors and give up to three pints a year. That would make a big difference.”
The 30 runners will be separated into six teams and complete the marathon in a relay.
Mrs Stembridge ran in the Edinburgh Marathon in 2003 and is looking forward to taking part in the event this year.
“I ran for Maggie’s Centre last time but it will be great to run for a cause which has made such a difference to us.”
A spokeswoman for the Blood Donor Centre said: “It demonstrates that talking really does save lives. The marathon relay team have registered more than 300 non-donors by telling Euan’s story. This is a fantastic achievement.”
The Blood Donor Centre at Lauriston Place aims to recruit 1000 new donors every month.
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