Family hope blood tests find match for relative in Australia

RELATIVES of an Irishman living in Australia are awaiting blood test analysis to see if they will be able to donate bone marrow tissue which could save his life.

John O’Neill, whose family came from Rosscarbery, Co Cork, has been diagnosed with leukaemia. He has endured five sessions of chemotherapy and two relapses in the past year and is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

John’s stepsister, Andrea, who lives in south Wales, said she was extremely grateful to all his relatives in Ireland who had volunteered to be tested for compatibility.

“John is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant and soon. At the beginning of the year there seemed to be a possible match in America, but that came to nothing. The match could come from anywhere, but a lot of us in the family feel it will come from the O’Neill connection. Maybe his dad is looking down from up above and keeping an eye on him and guiding us,” Andrea said.

John’s late father, Michael, was born in Rosscarbery and he has a number of cousins dotted around West Cork. It is believed John has around 30 cousins living in the region and across the water in Britain.

Fachtna McCarthy is one of John’s five first cousin’s who have just undergone blood tests and who are awaiting the results.

Fachtna, who lives in Clonakilty, said the haematologists in Dublin were carrying out tests on his blood and liaising with doctors in Australia.

“Giving bone marrow is a fairly evasive exercise so ideally people should be between 18 and 45. I’m 51, but because I’m in good health doctors say that they will stretch the age limit,” Fachtna said.

He heard of John’s plight from another relative who was contacted by Andrea.

“She had asked that the word be spread around. At this moment, all we can do is pray,” Fachtna added.

Andrea said she was anxious to hear from anybody living in the Rosscarbery area who may be related to John O’Neill.

She can be contacted at 0044-79706-11942.