Council Provost hails Dutch donor who has given him “possibility of life”

The former mental health professional has now said what happened to him is a sign of the importance of joining the stem cell register, run by pioneering charity the Anthony Nolan Trust.

“It’s not just for me, but there are a lot of folk walking about very healthy, and all they have to do is get a blood sample and, if they’re called, they’re called, and if they’re not, they’re not,” Dougie added.

Mid Argyll has had a long-established relationship in supporting Anthony Nolan and those living with blood-borne cancers.

In 1999, Lochgilphead ran a gala weekend in support of Joanna MacVicar, who was suffering from leukaemia.

The following year, Dougie and his wife Elizabeth took part in a charity hike for Anthony Nolan along the West Highland Way, raising £800.

Dougie added: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be the recipient of bone marrow 26 years later.”

Following on from Joanna’s legacy, LochgilpheadCommunity Fire Service team attend the town’s high school every year to discuss the Anthony Nolan Trust with second and third-year students.

Dougie has said when he is able, he plans to join the team at the school to speak about his own journey.

During his recovery so far, the 64-year-old has also suffered a common complication associated with the transplant and is currently in a period of isolation, having lost all his childhood vaccines as a result of the procedure.

He said: “I had what they call graft-versus-host disease, which is not a disease, but a reaction from the graft itself fighting your own old body cells.

“They say that that’s quite good because that means that, you know, your systems begin to kick in and begin to work and, generally speaking, my bloods were really good last week.

“So, as soon as the graft-versus-host is all away, then I can start getting my courses and that’ll be a big difference, and I will be able to get out and about.”

The councillor was keen to emphasise he is still attending council meetings remotely and urged any constituents to get in touch.

In the meantime, Dougie said he continues to receive messages of support from constituents and friends across Mid Argyll.

He added: “My wife has just come back up from down the street there and is saying, so and so is asking for you.

“So the support, I don’t see it, obviously, but it’s been incredible, absolutely incredible.”

Anthony Nolan was first set up in 1974, and anyone interested in joining the stem cell register can do so on its website.

Joining the worldwide database requires a blood test, with only one in 800 participants being asked to donate stem cells within five years.

The charity urges people who sign up to be “fully committed” when they sign up.