Etta Murton, 4, of Needham Market, who has finished treatment for rare form of cancer, urges blood donors to come forward
A four-year-old girl who has finished treatment for a rare form of cancer has urged blood donors to come forward.
Etta Murton, of Needham Market, was diagnosed with T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in September 2022, aged just 20 months.
She needed between 10 and 15 units of blood and platelets to help her stay strong and recover from the impact of her chemotherapy.
Last Easter, Etta was in hospital receiving the intensive chemo. This year, she and her mum, Becky, visited a blood donation session in Ipswich to thank donors for saving lives.
Etta carried a basket of Easter eggs to share with staff and donors instead of their usual post-donation biscuit.
Becky, 33, said: “To anyone thinking of donating blood, it’s super simple – the process to sign up and book an appointment is easy, with many different times for appointments.
“With Etta’s condition, people always ask, ‘what can I do to help?’, and I always say, ‘donate blood!’. It’s the most incredible gift; people who donate blood are nothing but lifesavers.”
Etta made a heartfelt Easter video to thank blood and platelet donors across the country for helping patients in need of transfusion. In it, she said: “Thank you everybody for all of the blood.”
The family are hoping, with Etta having finished treatment last Autumn, she will be able to spend Easter at home.
Gerry Gogarty, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Like Etta and her family, we would like to thank all our blood donors who have come forward to donate and boost blood stocks already this year.
“However, as the need for blood never stops, I urge both new and returning donors to book their next appointment today.”
England remains in Amber alert for low blood stocks, so it is critical enough donors step forward to keep blood in good supply to hospitals over Easter and beyond.
NHS Blood and Transplant is calling on people across the country to book donation appointments over the busy Easter and bank holiday period.
Karl, one the donors attending the session in Ipswich when Etta gave out her Easter eggs, said: “Seeing Etta was like a wonderful rainbow and ray of light - she brightened up my day even more than the sunshine outside.”
People with O negative and B negative blood types are particularly needed over the coming weeks. There is also an ongoing need for more donors of black heritage to help patients with sickle cell anaemia who need ethnically matched blood.
