A sister’s selfless stem cell donation has given Amanda Busch, an oncology pharmacist and mother of two, a second chance at life, proving that love and hope can truly save lives.
Johannesburg, South Africa (22 October 2024) – In a heartwarming display of love, Amanda Busch, an oncology pharmacist and mother of two, found herself on the receiving end of a life-changing gift — a stem cell donation from her sister, which helped her beat leukaemia and enter remission.
Amanda’s story is not just one of survival but of community, hope, and the power of family bonds.
“On the day before Father’s Day in 2010, I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia when my general practitioner ran some tests after I sought treatment for referred shoulder pain,” Amanda shares.
As the oncology manager at Medipost Pharmacy, Amanda was no stranger to the medical world, but this time, she became the patient, relying on the very medications she once dispensed to others.
Amanda’s journey took a complicated turn when she fell pregnant unexpectedly, requiring her to pause her cancer treatment and switch to a pregnancy-safe medication. After her baby was born, the doctors advised that her best option for beating the cancer would be a bone marrow transplant. This marked the beginning of a long search for a donor match — a process that can take years.
“So many kind friends and members of the community came forward offering to be tested as bone marrow donors,” Amanda recalls.
But with the odds of finding a match outside of biological relatives standing at only one in 100,000, Amanda was beyond grateful when her sister emerged as an almost perfect candidate.
“I thank my lucky stars that I have an amazing sister who was so generous in her support and willingness to make this lifesaving stem cell donation to me.”
The process of stem cell donation is often simpler than many imagine, similar to donating blood, with donors taking medication to boost their stem cell production. This, combined with the growing need to diversify South Africa’s stem cell registry, highlights the importance of raising awareness. Amanda’s story is a shining example of what is possible when people come together in support of one another.
“Although the chance of being a match for a stranger in need of a lifesaving transfusion is small, there are children, mothers, and fathers praying to find a genetically similar tissue match from a donor who can give them the same chance at life I had,” Amanda says.
Her hope is that more South Africans will step forward to register as donors, knowing that they hold the power to give someone the gift of life.
Following the transplant, Amanda spent 16 days in isolation at the haematology unit of Netcare Pretoria East Hospital to protect against infection.
But despite the challenges, she reflects on her journey with gratitude: “Thankfully, in my case, the side effects were not too severe, and I began the path to recovery that has led me to still be in remission seven years later. I have so much to be grateful for.”
Rentia Myburgh, group sales and marketing director at Medipost Holdings, adds that awareness is crucial in saving lives: “We salute the haematologists and healthcare professionals, as well as all registered donors, for your contribution to saving the lives of people like our valued colleague Amanda.”
For those inspired by Amanda’s story, registering as a bone marrow donor is free and non-invasive. Visit https://sabmr.co.za/become-a-donor/ and https://www.dkms-africa.org/get-involved/become-a-donor to learn more about how you can become a potential lifesaver.
Amanda’s story ends on a note of pure positivity. After years of uncertainty, she is now living in remission, watching her children grow up, and feeling overwhelmingly thankful for the love, support, and medical expertise that brought her to this point.
Her message is simple yet profound: “The gift of life is yours to give.”
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