Girl with ‘one in a billion’ condition meets stem cell donor who saved her life

Published

2 years ago

October 28, 2023

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The excitement of the Gardella family was palpable as they waited in the arrivals hall at Birmingham Airport for someone they’d never met before but who already meant so much to them.

Finally, they spotted a middle-aged woman wearing an oversized hoodie amongst the passengers arriving from Dusseldorf.

The family instantly recognised Dana Ernst-Behme from her WhatsApp picture and nine-year-old Sofia Gardella took the lead, eagerly approaching their guest and flinging her small arms around her neck. The hug was a long one and Ms Ernst-Behme closed her eyes as she embraced her young host.

This meeting was so special because it was the first time Ms Ernst-Behme met the girl whose life she had likely saved.

Sofia, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was just two years old when her family discovered she urgently needed a stem cell transplant. She was diagnosed with Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia (CAMT), a condition that is so rare doctors believe fewer than 100 people in the world have it.

CAMT causes the body to produce a dangerously low number of bone marrow cells, specifically the type needed to make platelets that clot the blood.

Sofia’s medical team scoured the Anthony Nolan stem cell register and found a good genetic match with Ms Ernst-Behme, 52, from Helpsen, Germany. She donated her stem cells from her hometown and they were immediately flown to the UK for Sofia’s life-saving treatment.

Sofia’s mum Claire Gardella said: “I actually saw the cells arrive at the hospital. I was looking out of the window and saw the courier pull up with the box.

“It looked like a bag of blood, but obviously it was a bag of magic cells. That’s what we called it when we explained it to Sofia – a bag of magic.”

Ms Ernst-Behme’s healthy stem cells replaced Sofia’s damaged ones, and she has now made a full recovery.

After five years of emails, calls and letters with Mrs Gardella, Ms Ernst-Behme decided to visit the UK for the first time and see the family whose lives she’s changed.

‘She saved my life’

Sofia said she was excited to meet her donor.

“I think it’s really important [for her to visit] because she saved my life.”

Sofia wasn’t remotely shy around Mrs Ernst-Behme. When they got home from the airport she expertly demonstrated how to play the card game Boggle.

Mrs Ernst-Behme admitted she’d known to expect Sofia’s confidence thanks to her mother’s emails.

“Claire wrote that Sofia’s a chatterbox and she said I [must have] had it in my bone marrow. But I said I’m not a chatterbox and then my husband said… I am,” she laughed.

‘We need more people to register and everyone can help maybe’

Sofia said she didn’t understand what was going on when she received her bone marrow transplant because she was too young, but now she realises a stranger donated exactly what she needed to lead a healthy, happy life. She’s very grateful.

Sofia said she now loves dancing, swimming and riding her bike – all made possible by the transplant she received.
Her mother said it was such a huge relief when they got the news the doctors had found a match for Sofia.

“Oh it’s amazing just to think that there’s somebody out there who’s willing to help us, somebody that doesn’t know us,” said Mrs Gardella.

“We need more people to register and everyone can help maybe. There’s one match all over the world,” said Mrs Ernst-Behme.

Call for donors

The Anthony Nolan charity has been helping patients for almost 50 years.

It has the UK’s biggest stem cell register, but desperately needs more people to sign up, particularly donors between the age of 16-25 years old. Donors under the age of 30 lead to better survival rates for patients but fewer and fewer are coming forward.

“It’s really simple to sign up [to the register],” said Rowena Bentley, a spokesperson for the charity.

“You receive a swab in the post and you just need to swap your cheeks and send them back to Antony Nolan. We test those for your unique genetic type and then you sit on the register ready to be a match for a patient in need.”

UK

Two killed in stabbing at business premises in London

Published

4 hours ago

July 28, 2025

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Two killed in stabbing at business premises in London

Two men have died after a stabbing in central London.

Police were called to a business premises in Long Lane, Southwark, at 1pm on Monday, where they found four people had been stabbed.

A 58-year-old man died at the scene while three others were taken to hospital, the Metropolitan Police said. These included a 27-year-old man who has since died.

A third man, who is in his thirties, remains in hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Another man in his thirties, who has been detained in connection with the incident, remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital.

Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond said: “Our investigation is in the early stages and we are working hard to understand the full circumstances of this shocking incident.

“At this point, we do not believe it to be terrorism-related and there is no further risk to the public.”

UK

Lionesses celebrate Euros triumph at ‘very special’ Downing Street reception

Published

6 hours ago

July 28, 2025

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Lionesses celebrate Euros triumph at 'very special' Downing Street reception

The red carpet was rolled out at No 10 on Monday evening as the Lionesses attended a reception to celebrate their Euro 2025 victory.

The England squad went straight to Downing Street after touching down at Southend Airport in Essex less than 24 hours after they defeated Spain in a penalty shootout in Sunday’s final.

Led by captain Leah Williamson, who proudly clutched the trophy, the side posed for pictures outside No 10 before being greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

Speaking to Sky News correspondent Ashna Hurynag after the 40-minute reception, England manager Sarina Wiegman described the celebration as “very, very special”.

“To be able to go inside and also be in the garden there, [was] really nice,” she said. “They had put up pictures of us to show what we had done in the Euros… it was very, very special.”

Some people on social media have called for the England boss – who is from the Netherlands – to get an honorary damehood, but Wiegman told Ashna Hurynag that she “hasn’t thought about that”.

“I feel so much respect from England and from the Royal Family too, I think that’s the most important thing, feeling valued,” she said.

Weigman also joined some of the players to videocall Sir Keir Starmer, who was in Scotland with Donald Trump.

In a speech at the reception, the manager quipped: “I have to make my apologies [for giving] you lots of heart attacks.”

“We made it through and that’s why we’re here now,” she continued.

“The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we’re already legendary. Thank you so much for having us here.”

As the Lionesses left Downing Street, some stopped to try and meet another famous feline – Larry the Cat.

The celebrations will continue on Tuesday afternoon with an open-top bus parade through central London before the team gather outside Buckingham Palace.

The Lionesses retained their Women’s Euros title on Sunday night by beating Spain in Basel, Switzerland.