Family in desperate search for Polish teen stem cell donor

A Scots family say they are “at a loss” as they search for a stem cell donor in Poland who saved their mum’s life.

Lisa Semple, 58, from Gourock, was treated for a type of blood cancer with a transplant from a teenager who was the right match in the European country.

The man, believed to be 19 years old, donated the stem cells on October 13, 2025, at the university hospital in Gdansk.

Two days later, the donation saved the mum-of-four’s life.

Now, her family say the best chance of recovery is for her to get a donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), which is when collected T cells (type of white blood cell) and delivered into the patient’s bloodstream.

Lisa needs his donation to give her hope, but the donor registry in Poland has been unable to find him.

They are urging the man to contact DKMS, an international charity and the UK’s largest stem cell register, which also operates in Poland, Germany, Chile, India and South Africa.

During the first two years after a blood stem cell donation, the donor and patient are generally only able to correspond anonymously.

However, direct contact can be made in Poland through DKMS.

Lisa’s daughter, Lucy, told STV News: “What’s very unusual is for the original donor to disappear and leave us completely at a loss. I’m feeling incredibly sad, worried and overwhelmed right now.

“Knowing that there is a donor out there who could give my mum a chance, but not being able to find them, is heartbreaking.”

She added: “However, we know that it’s essential that the donor maintains his confidentiality – we have no desire to find out who he is.

“We just want to know that he knows that he’s needed, and if he says no, then that’s absolutely his choice.”

The family say they have contacted the British Embassy in Poland.

They thanked the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity which saves and improves the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders, and DKMS for their support.

The Foreign Office and DKMS have been contacted for comment.