'Gold dust' donor found for young dad

A father of two is completely over the moon after receiving the news that a stem cell match has been found for him.

Jaso Manokaran, a 29-year-old from Harrow, described potential donors as being like gold dust after a shock cancer diagnosis left him relying upon a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor.

After being rushed to hospital due to constant pain and fever-like symptoms, Jaso who is a Sri Lankan Tamil - was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in December and faced an uphill battle to find a match on the Anthony Nolan register.

His wife Jasmini, who signed up to the register herself, kick-started the Help Save Jaso campaign to recruit more Sri Lankan donors to the register.

Following weeks of campaigning to get more Sri Lankan Tamils to sign up, Jaso has defied all odds and found himself a stem cell match.

Jasmini said: When the consultant told us they had a match for Jaso it was just amazing news. We were so happy, completely over the moon. The consultant told us how rare it is to find a match for a Sri Lankan so Jaso feels like the luckiest man thats ever lived.

"Words cannot describe how thankful we are to the donor who is giving Jaso a second chance at life. I just want to thank them for their lifesaving help."

His family say they are now more determined than ever to campaign for more Sri Lankans to sign up to the register, to help future families in need.

Jasmini added: Now a donor has been found he is very happy; he is doing so much better since the news physically and mentally.

I want to say thank you so much to everyone who has signed up so far. I am calling on my fellow Sri Lankas to keep signing up to the register and keep helping people like Jaso as there is still a shortage of potential donors.

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'Gold dust' donor found for young dad