This mum needed a bone marrow transplant. She was forced to look overseas

Perth mum, Julie Moffatt, 39, needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant after her leukaemia diagnosis but because Australia has the lowest rate of donation in the world, she was forced to look overseas.

Julie Moffatt (second left), husband Nick Moffatt (right) and their three daughters after Julie's operation to receive a bone marrow transplant in January 2024. Credit: Supplied

Key Points

• Julie Moffatt was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia in September 2023 and urgently required a bone marrow transplant.
• When no local donors could be found, a worldwide search ensued.
• She says misconceptions about the process contribute to Australia's position as the 'lowest' for bone marrow donations.

Perth-based mum-of-three Julie Moffatt says her world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in September last year.

"After the initial treatment, which consisted of four rounds of chemotherapy, the doctors recommended that I have a bone marrow transplant as this gives the best chance of cure when done in first remission," Moffatt said.

She said after contacting the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, a worldwide search for a compatible donor began.

The 39-year-old former oncology nurse had previously led a very active life including competing in triathlons.

By December, an overseas donor had been found then in January this year, she was admitted to hospital for the transplant itself.

"This consists of a heavy regime of chemotherapy, which took seven days," she said.

"After this, the cells were infused via a catheter inserted in my chest. The infusion took at most one hour."

She said a common misconception was that providing a bone marrow donation was an invasive procedure.

"However, the donor provides the cells in a similar manner to blood donation. After the cells are delivered, the bag is hung and they are transplanted to the recipient," Moffatt said.

Julie Moffatt was a regular competitor in triathlons before her leukaemia diagnosis in September 2023. Credit: Supplied

"The hospital stay was four weeks in total. The transplant process is really quite tough. Between the chemotherapy and the medications required to stop rejection of the transplant, I was very unwell.

"(I experienced) nausea, fatigue, mouth and throat ulcers and low blood counts requiring blood transfusions. I was unable to eat or drink properly so was supported with IV fluids and nutrition.

"Pain relief was very regular. The Fiona Stanley Hospital staff were amazing, and the support of family and friends got me through it."

Australia 'lowest in world' for bone marrow donation

Australia ranks the lowest in the world when comparing its donor pool size as a percentage of the population, according to the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) global trends report.

The number of bone marrow donors in Australia is low with just 153,000 people currently listed on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

Because of this, every year, eight out of 10 Australian patients like Moffatt must rely on a donation from overseas, which can sometimes jeopardise the success of the transplant.

According to a registry spokesperson, transporting stem cells across international borders could be held up by a range of factors including regulations, civil unrest and time constraints.

"Delays in transit can compromise the viability of the cells, as they need to be transplanted within a specific time frame to maintain their efficacy," the spokesperson said.

A life-saving bone marrow transplant helped Julie Moffatt (left) start to enjoy normal life again including birthday celebrations with husband Nick (second left) and their three daughters. Credit: Supplied

Moffatt said she believed bone marrow donation rates were low in Australia because of a "... lack of awareness and misinformation on how to become a donor and the donation procedure".

"Many people don't know how to join the registry and believe it is an invasive and painful procedure to donate," she said.

"Bone marrow donation isn't a scary thing, it's just like donating blood. It's even easier to join the registry with a simple mouth swab.

"If you are between the ages of 18-35, sign up and help many people in need. A stem cell match is rare, like winning a lottery that could save someone’s life."

How to become a donor in Australia

The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry in Australia assists hospitals to find 'matches' for patients waiting for transplants.

It connects donors and patients with the same genetic heritage to ensure the best success of transplants.

To become a donor, people can simply sign up for the registry and take a saliva test which is a similar process to that taken for a COVID test.

"You have to be between 18 and 35 years old to become a donor," Lisa Smith, CEO of the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, said.

"Having a young donor increases the chances of a successful transplant."

She said once a donor had been identified, in 90 per cent of cases, it was, "a matter of taking medications that stimulated the immune system for a few days, and then undergoing a procedure similar to a regular blood donation (except) it lasts a few hours."

"In the remaining 10 per cent of cases, bone marrow is collected from a donor's hip bone under anaesthesia, ensuring the procedure itself is pain-free. Post-surgery discomfort is typically managed with simple pain relief like paracetamol."

The Australian registry is part of an international network that searches among 40 million donors to find the best genetic compatibility.

Every year, the Australian registry searches for more than 1000 genetic matches around the world.

"The greater the number of donors in Australia, the less our dependence on foreign donors," Smith said.

In 2023, the registry provided care to 420 patients waiting for a transplant.