Stem cell donor shortage forces Australian families overseas

For hundreds of children battling severe illness a stem cell or bone marrow donation can truly mean the difference between life and death.

But finding a compatible donor is like finding a needle in a haystack.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Shortage of stem cell and bone marrow donations.

There is a shortage of donors on the registry and health professionals are calling out for more Australians to sign up and potentially save a life.

Lisa Smith, chief executive of Stem Cell Donors Australia, told 7NEWS that about 80 per cent of Australian patients rely on overseas donors.

“We need to recruit more donors onto the stem cell donor registry so that we can better meet the needs of Australian patients by using Australian donors and not relying on donors which are typically from the northern hemisphere, literally on the other side of the planet,” Smith said.

‘We need more donors’

Blood stem cell transplants offer a critical, potentially life-saving treatment for patients with blood cancers and disorders, such as leukaemia.

The procedure replaces malfunctioning stem cells with healthy cells from a donor, addressing the underlying causes of the illness.

For many patients, stem cell transplants represent their last hope for a cure and provide the best chance for long-term survival.

Each year thousands of Australians are diagnosed with blood cancers and disorders, with many requiring a stem cell transplant to survive.

Among them is Addison Kemp, 6, who was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare blood disorder, in 2024.

She needed an urgent stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant, but nobody in the family was a match.

Her mum Bianca Kemp told 7NEWS she was afraid Addison would not survive.

“She was showing signs of not making it through the year, really, with constant blood donations,” Kemp said.

“Her body would start rejecting it. We were quite stressed that we might not find a donor.”

‘It’s like gold. It’s like the best thing ever.’

Eventually a donor was found in the UK and the process to transplant began.

“It’s like gold. It’s like the best thing ever. I honestly couldn’t believe that this was happening,” Kemp said.

“I remember saying to my husband, once we found out we had (a donor) from across the planet ... ‘can we just lock them up so they don’t get injured?’ because I didn’t want them to get hurt and then (not be able to help) Addison.”

The family have launched a GoFundMe to assist cover their ongoing medical costs.

Mum-of-three Michelle Casey is another Australian in need of a transplant.

An incredible tale of strength, Casey survived a serious motorcycle crash in 2023 but was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

“I broke my back and my neck. Then I was trying to recover from that and I went in to have some metal work taken out of my spine,” Casey said.

“And they, just by chance, did a blood test and they found that I had elevated white blood cells.

“And that’s how they found that I had a really rare leukaemia.”

Casey is hoping to raise awareness by documenting her journey, including on Instagram.

“After what I’ve been through with the motorcycle accident and having to survive that, it’s really got me ready for this fight that I need to do,” she said.

“I believe everything happens for a reason and I’m definitely meant to help spread awareness about this incredible cause.”