This is how it all began...

We got married on March 19th 2011 and four days after coming back from our honey moon he had to take a medical exam at work. Two days later they called him to tell him that the analytic results weren't good. They sent him to the hospital in Toledo and on the next day took a bone marrow puncture and gave him the diagnosis: acute myeloid leukaemia.

Our world tumbled but I have to say that, despite being young, we were strong and continued heading forward together, without separating. None of his brothers were compatible with him. That was also very bad news but again, he rose and kept heading forward because he always said that you can get out of this and that the illness would never beat him.

They told him that there existed a possibility of trying the auto transplant although there was a possibility that there wouldn't be enough cells, but he is so strong and good that he managed to get enough cells. He deserved it. The month of chemotherapy was very tough but he handled it like a champion. Now he goes to the hospital once a month for his regular check-ups and every six months they take a bone marrow puncture. I hope that everything continues like this at least.

Raúl and me two months after the transplant celebrating our six year anniversary

This is his story, I hope that it is helpful and, as he usually says, one can beat this!

Greetings,

Teresa

If you want more information about the donation of bone marrow to help people like Raúl (and many other patients) to have the opportunity of a cure, click HERE. Remember that the donation of bone marrow is altruistic, anonymous, and universal. If you register as a bone marrow donor, you could be making a donation to a person from anywhere in the world. If you want more information, write to donants@fcarreras.es or call us on our free phone number (in Spain) 900 32 33 34.

You could also become a member of the José Carreras Foundation. With a little amount you could help us to continue our research.