A mother’s instinct saves her daughter’s life

Mother of four Rachel knows first-hand how important blood donors are. Over the last two years, her eldest daughter Trinity has received over 110 units of life-saving whole blood and platelet transfusions, which Rachel credits with helping to save her daughter’s life.

In July 2015, Rachel began to notice Trinity wasn’t her bubbly self. The eleven-year-old was complaining of dizzy spells, headaches, and had been behaving erratically. Visits to the doctor put it down to fluctuating hormones. But after a particularly bad turn in early October, Rachel rushed her daughter to hospital.

After doctors completed a round of checks which showed nothing unusual, Trinity was about to be discharged undiagnosed. Rachel’s motherly instincts kicked in, and she insisted on a second opinion. A passing doctor agreed to take another look, and that’s when Rachel said things started to move quickly.

‘Trinity was sent straight to intensive care to have a CT scan, and within the hour we were in a helicopter, on our way to Starship in Auckland,’ says Rachel.

‘That was where I was told Trinity had medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Little did I know then we wouldn’t return home for five months.’

Over the next nine weeks, Trinity underwent brain surgery to remove the tumour, followed by 30 days of high dose radiation treatment. After a short break home for Christmas, the family returned to Starship where Trinity underwent strong dose chemotherapy treatment. During this time, Trinity received whole blood or platelet transfusions nearly every day, helping to save her life.

‘When she received a blood transfusion, I could literally see the life come back into her. The colour in her skin would return, it was literally the gift of life,’ says Rachel.

Doctors advised Rachel the cancer would leave Trinity’s chance of conceiving naturally at about 10 per cent, and suggested her eggs be frozen ahead of her radiation treatment. Knowing Trinity’s hopes to one day become a mother, Rachel asked her how she would feel if she could never have children.

‘She burst into tears, and that’s when I knew we had to go ahead with the operation. The doctors harvested some of her eggs and ovarian tissue, so now Trinity can decide herself whether to have children when the time comes.’

The family have a long road ahead of them, but have decided to take each day as it comes. Trinity recently returned to school, and is settling back into her routine. She particularly enjoys science, and hopes to one day become a marine biologist.

Knowing the importance of blood donation first hand, Rachel became a blood donor herself, and encourages her friends and family to sign up with New Zealand Blood Service.

‘A bag of blood is worth more than its weight in gold to our family, simply because Trinity wouldn’t be here without it. If I could personally thank each and every one of her blood donors I would do it in a flash,’ says Rachel.

To find out more about how you can become a blood donor, click here or call 0800 GIVE BLOOD.