- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
A hero helicopter pilot who saved 31 lives in Afghanistan could die unless he receives a stem cell transplant.
uncertain
he → see → transplant
Chris Gordon, a 43-year-old former RAF Chinook pilot, received the Distinguished Flying Cross from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 for his life-saving work during the war in Afghanistan.
asserted
Gordon → receive → Afghanistan
The medal for gallantry was handed to Mr Gordon after he used his helicopter to shield British and Afghan troops from enemy fire before airlifting them to safety.
asserted
he → hand → safety
Mr Gordon carried out his brave rescue mission despite losing an engine during the attack.
But now, the veteran has launched an appeal for a stem cell donor after he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia.
asserted
he → carry → anaemia
In a plea to donors, Mr Gordon said: 'In Afghanistan I saw courage and leadership at their best, people stepping forward when others needed help.
asserted
others → say → help
Now I find myself needing help from other people.'
asserted
myself → find → people
Aplastic anaemia is an extremely rare, life-threatening blood disorder which means Mr Gordon's bone marrow cannot produce new blood cells.
asserted
marrow → threaten → cells
Chris Gordon (pictured), a 43-year-old former RAF Chinook pilot, received the Distinguished Flying Cross from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013
Mr Gordon has launched an appeal for a stem cell donor after he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia
Doctors have told him that he needs a transplant for a second chance at life.
asserted
he → picture → life
The former pilot is now working with the blood cancer charity DKMS to get more people to register as potential stem cell donors.
asserted
people → work → donors
Mr Gordon, who is from Manchester but now lives in Los Angeles, is now working as a director at a helicopter company,
asserted
who → live → company
has been told that he needs a transplant in the next few months.
asserted
he → tell → months
His brother Jonathan was found to be only a half match so medics are scouring global stem cell registers in the hope that someone will be a full match for Mr Gordon.
asserted
someone → find → Gordon
While he waits for a match he is having blood transfusions twice a week.
asserted
he → wait → transfusions
DKMS said that finding a matching donor is also linked to ethnic heritage, and only a small proportion of the stem cell register is from an ethnic minority background.
asserted
proportion → say → background
This means that people such as Mr Gordon, who is half Jamaican, have less chance of finding their lifesaving match, the charity said.
asserted
charity → mean → match
But I need them to join the donor register so they can be identified as a match,' the veteran said.
asserted
veteran → need → match
He continued: 'I really think that if you're OK giving blood, you can donate your stem cells.
asserted
you → continue → cells
In a plea to donors, Mr Gordon said: 'In Afghanistan I saw courage and leadership at their best, people stepping forward when others needed help.
asserted
others → say → help
Now I find myself needing help from other people.
asserted
myself → find → people
The couple are expecting a baby boy within weeks
'
asserted
couple → expect → weeks
People don't know that they can do this, and they don't know the impact that it could have.
uncertain
it → know → that
The actual sign-up process is so easy, and most people will never even be called up.
asserted
people → sign → ?
But if you are a match, you could save the life of someone like me, and it is probably much easier than you think.'
uncertain
you → save → me
Mr Gordon, who spent 14 years with the RAF, lives with his wife and two-year-old daughter.
asserted
who → spend → wife
The couple are expecting a baby boy within weeks.
asserted
couple → expect → weeks
DKMS said that signing up to its register is a 'simple process', involving just a few health questions and some cheek swabs, which can be ordered for free from the charity's website.
asserted
which → say → website
DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes said: 'For Chris, and patients like him around the world, the right person joining the stem cell donor register could give them their lives back.
uncertain
person → say → lives
'We are so grateful that he has chosen to share his story to encourage more people to sign up as potential donors.
asserted
he → choose → donors
'Signing up only takes a few minutes, but one day you could be called to give someone a second chance.
uncertain
you → sign → chance
Take a look at the DKMS website to find out more and order your free kit today; you could save a life.'
uncertain
you → take → life
The Aporia
