Lisa Semple’s Fight for a Second Stem Cell Transfusion in Scotland
When Lisa Semple, a 58‑year‑old mother from Gourock, received a stem cell transplant in October 2025, her family thought the worst was over. The transplant, supplied by an anonymous 19‑year‑old donor in Poland, had bridged the gap between her damaged bone marrow and a new, healthy immune system.
But that milestone was only the beginning of a long journey. Hematologists have explained that a post‑transplant procedure called a donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) can bolster the graft and prevent relapse. For Lisa, the DLI is her best chance of achieving a lasting cure.
Unfortunately, the family has not been able to locate the original donor again. The DKMS, the international charity that maintains the registry and facilitates matching, is unable to re‑reach the teenager. His anonymity, while essential for protecting donor privacy, now creates a painful stalemate.
Lisa’s children all tested as potential donors but none matched the required HLA markers. The department had to rely on the unrelated Polish donor to generate the initial graft. Now, without the same donor’s white blood cells, her doctors are searching for a new match within the same registry, hoping another Polish volunteer can donate again.
The challenge is compounded by the rarity of perfect matches. The DKMS registry in Poland, like in many countries, has limited representation of certain ethnic backgrounds, making it harder for patients with mixed‑race heritage or unique genetic profiles to find compatible donors. This difficulty is highlighted by other patients, such as Beth Doherty in Bristol, who call for increased participation from mixed‑race communities.
Through social media pleas and diplomatic outreach—including contact with the British Embassy in Poland—the Semple family remains hopeful. Their youngest son, Charlie, has urged the anonymous teenager to consider donating again, emphasizing the critical need for consent while respecting the donor’s privacy.
Health professionals warn that if Lisa does not receive a timely DLI, her leukaemia could relapse with an estimated 80 % probability. The outlook hinges on the availability of a suitable donor and the swift execution of the infusion. The family’s persistence reflects the broader reality for many patients: accessibility to life‑saving treatments often comes down to chance encounters with rare donors.
In a joint statement, DKMS UK and Poland expressed deep sympathy for Lisa and her family. They reiterated their commitment to making “every reasonable effort to contact matching donors to share requests for a further donation,” while recognizing that some donors may choose not to participate.
Lisa’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of the donor match process and the essential support of volunteer registries. It also shines a light on the need for broader donor recruitment, especially from under‑represented groups, to ensure that families everywhere have a real chance at a second, lifesaving transplant.
As Lisa and her team wait, the world of medical science and compassionate volunteerism continues to work on expanding the donor pool, smoothing pathways that might save countless more lives in the future.
Conclusion
Lisa’s ongoing battle for a second stem cell infusion underscores the complexities of transplant medicine and the indispensable role of donor registries. With perseverance and communal support, her family hopes to secure the match they need to secure her health and future.