A former RAF helicopter pilot who rescued 31 people in Afghanistan is urgently seeking a stem cell donor after being diagnosed with a potentially fatal blood disorder.
Chris Gordon, 43, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 in recognition of his bravery during the Afghanistan conflict.
The gallantry medal was presented after the former Chinook pilot used his aircraft to protect British and Afghan personnel from enemy fire before carrying them out of danger.
He continued the perilous rescue operation even after one of the helicopter’s engines was lost during the attack.
Now, more than a decade after his military service was recognised, Mr Gordon has appealed for a stem cell donor following his diagnosis of severe aplastic anaemia.
Appealing to potential donors, Mr Gordon said: ‘In Afghanistan I saw courage and leadership at their best, people stepping forward when others needed help.
‘Now I find myself needing help from other people.’
Severe aplastic anaemia is a rare and life-threatening condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough new blood cells.
Chris Gordon (pictured), a 43-year-old former RAF Chinook pilot, was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013
Mr Gordon is appealing for a stem cell donor after being diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia
Doctors have told the former pilot that a transplant is his best chance of survival. He is now working with blood cancer charity DKMS to encourage more people to join the stem cell donor register.
Mr Gordon, originally from Manchester and now based in Los Angeles, works as a director at a helicopter company. He has been warned that he may need a transplant within the next few months.
His brother Jonathan was found to be only a half-match, leaving doctors searching international stem cell databases for a suitable full match.
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Until a donor is found, Mr Gordon is relying on blood transfusions twice each week.
DKMS says the likelihood of finding a compatible donor is influenced by ethnic background, while people from minority ethnic groups remain underrepresented on stem cell registers.
As a result, the charity says people such as Mr Gordon, who is half Jamaican, face a lower chance of finding a life-saving match.
‘A potential donor could be anyone, anywhere in the world. But I need them to join the donor register so they can be identified as a match,’ the veteran said.
He added: ‘I really think that if you’re OK giving blood, you can donate your stem cells.
In his appeal, Mr Gordon said: ‘In Afghanistan I saw courage and leadership at their best, people stepping forward when others needed help. Now I find myself needing help from other people.’
Mr Gordon with his wife and daughter. The couple are expecting a baby boy within weeks
‘People don’t know that they can do this, and they don’t know the impact that it could have. The actual sign-up process is so easy, and most people will never even be called up. But if you are a match, you could save the life of someone like me, and it is probably much easier than you think.’
Mr Gordon, who spent 14 years with the RAF, lives with his wife and two-year-old daughter. The couple are expecting a baby boy within 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.
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.
‘We are so grateful that he has chosen to share his story to encourage more people to sign up as potential donors.
‘Signing up only takes a few minutes, but one day you could be called to give someone a second chance. Take a look at the DKMS website to find out more and order your free kit today; you could save a life.’
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