Northampton woman's quest to find long-lost dad for life-saving transplant

Sarah Langdale is hunting for her biological father who might be her life-saving bone marrow match.

The 31-year-old, originally from Southfields, only knows that her dad met her mum, Lorraine, near her family home in Great Gull Crescent back in 1988 but her mum is now unsure of his name.

"I'm on a quest to find my father, it could potentially save my life," Sarah said. "I really need my dad to come forward."

Sarah has had aplastic anemia since she was two years old, which is a serious condition affecting the blood, where the bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells.

Sarah said doctors were able to stablise her condition when she was younger but during lockdown her condition has declined. When she was 25 she was also diagnosed with vulval cancer, which she's still undergoing operations for.

"Now I'm having blood transfusions every three weeks and platelets every three weeks. I eventually started to lose my colour and energy and I can't do anything," she added.

"Yes I have arms and legs, I can function, but when it gets to that point I feel sluggish."

Sarah is searching for a ‘halpo’ transplant, or ‘half match’. A haplo transplant (or transplant from your parent) is generally not desirable, unless a patient does not have a sibling match or a matching unrelated donor cannot be found for them on the stem cell register.

Sarah's mum and one of her siblings have each provided her with a 50% bone marrow match but she is hoping for better chances with her dad.

According to Anthony Nolan, if no match can be found on the register, a parent donor is better than no donor at all.

If Sarah's dad doesn't come forward, Sarah's next step will mean she will need to take new medication, which might damage her liver.

If the drugs don't work then the last resort for her is to use her mum or siblings as a donor, with slimmer chances of survival.

She added: "It would mean a hell of a lot to find my dad. I could try and get answers about my bone marrow, I could try and find out if he's alive and my ethnicity and background.

"There's a lot of puzzles that need putting together.

"I've been looking hard for him, I thought I could try the Chronicle & Echo because he's meant to live in Northampton, so why not get the story out here.

"I don't know his looks, I don't know what colour his eyes are, I don't know anything."

Sarah, who now lives in Rugby and works as a barber, said she wants him to come forward as she has been searching for him for years.

From what she's been told she understands he used to drink at Ritzy's club.

"I wouldn't hold grudges because I don't know his side," Sarah added. "I don't even know if he knows I'm here.

"You can't jump to conclusions and I've got to listen and hear him out. If he doesn't want to know me it's a bit gutting but I've lived 31 years without him.

"It's big for me, it's not just finding my dad, it's life-changing."