When to Epsom hospital for my first outpatient appointment. Each appointment involves having my bloods taken, and waiting to see the constant haematologist. This week my mother came along with my brother and I, armed with a battery of questions, not all of which could be answered until my condition had been fully diagnosed.

My brother also had his bloods taken. This is because with siblings (brothers or sisters) there is a 1 in 4 chance of them being a compatible donor. A complex series of HLA (human leukocyte antigen) tests, otherwise known as tissue typing tests needed to be carried out in order to determine whether Michael was a suitable donor. If not, an unrelated donor would need to be found on the blood registers such as the Anthony Nowlan Trust, which are charities and entirely supported by donations. The results of my brother's tissue type tests could take a few weeks to come through.