A YOUNG leukaemia survivor has finally met the donor who saved his life.
She travelled from Germany to see Alfie Commons, four, who is fully recovered from his bone marrow transplant.
2
Christin Bouvier, 34, had been unable to meet Alfie, of Toton, Notts, before due to strict privacy laws governing stem cell donors.
But the teacher came face to face with Alfie and mum Lorna, 40, on Wednesday.
Lorna said: “The meet up was just amazing, it was everything we could have possibly dreamed of — there were lots of hugs and tears.
“We owe so much to Christin, words of thanks will never feel enough. She’s a really lovely person!”
Christin, who lives in Scherwin, said: “I was very nervous and shaking at first and when we finally met we cried a lot and hugged.”
Alfie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia aged just seven months.
2
Three rounds of chemotherapy failed and older brother Billy, now nine, wasn’t a donor match.
So his family turned to the worldwide register.
Christin had been on the register for blood cancer charity DKMS since 2010.
She said: “When they told me that the recipient was a baby — I just cried.
“When I found out Alfie was responding to treatment, so many tears of joy ran down my face.”
Alfie got the all-clear in 2017, allowing Lorna and Christin to communicate anonymously via DKMS.
Two years later, Lorna was also able to send videos and pictures before a meeting was arranged.
Christin added: “It was always a dream to meet Lorna and Alfie. So far, this is the best thing that I have done in my entire life.”
And Lorna added: “I want more people to become donors — there’s a match out there for everyone.”
