Hannah’s fight for survival
Hannah Poole from Ammanford was just three when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2013. After months of chemotherapy, her family thought the worst was behind them. But five years later, the cancer returned.
To survive, Hannah needed countless transfusions of red blood cells and platelets to keep her strong enough for treatment. Now 15, she’s fully recovered and looking forward to spending Christmas at home.
“I love Christmas. It’s my favourite time of year, even when I was unwell,” Hannah said. “I want to say a huge thank you to every single blood and platelet donor in Wales. Because of you, I get to make more Christmas memories with my family.”
(Image: Wales Blood Service)
A father’s 230 donations
Her dad Adam became a platelet donor after Hannah’s first diagnosis. Since then, he’s made more than 230 donations — each one involving a 100‑mile round trip.
“Christmas is special for most families,” Adam said. “But for us, it means everything. We never forget that Hannah wouldn’t be here without the generosity of blood and platelet donors.”
Mum Katrina added:
“When you donate, you give the ultimate gift — time together. Without you, we wouldn’t have Hannah. It saved us as a family.”
Why donations matter now
The Welsh Blood Service say they need more than 21,000 donations over the winter to meet demand across the 19 hospitals it supplies. Around 70% of these help patients like Hannah who are fighting cancer and blood disorders.
Platelets are especially vital — but they only last seven days, meaning the need is constant. Stem cell donations can also be the best, sometimes only, chance of survival for patients with blood cancers.
“Seeing is believing”
Last Christmas, Adam received a text message confirming his donation had reached a hospital. He was one of 126 donors to get that message on Christmas Day.
“We were sat on the sofa after dinner, already feeling grateful,” Katrina said. “Adam looked at his phone and was in awe.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” Adam added. “We’ve received so many gifts that gave us more Christmases with Hannah. To think I might be doing the same for someone else was overwhelming.”
(Image: Wales Blood Service)
Call to action
Alan Prosser, Director of the Welsh Blood Service, said:
“Stories like Hannah’s remind us why donations matter. Without blood and platelet donors, we can’t have happy endings like this. Winter is one of the most challenging times for the NHS. That’s why we’re asking people to come forward and donate with us.”
You can book a blood donation at wbs.wales/xmas25 or find out more at wbs.wales/SeeingIsBelieving2526.
