Man inspired to give back to NHS after transplant

A man has become a patient transport worker to give back to the NHS, after undergoing a life-saving stem cell transplant.

Ashley Gray, from Hillsborough, Sheffield, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a rare type of blood cancer, on New Year's Day 2023.

After his transplant in May that year, he recovered well enough to return to work and jumped at the opportunity to join the NHS.

"I had so much gratitude and that's when I decided I wanted to do something more worthwhile with my life," the 60-year-old said.

Acute myeloid leukaemia is a rare type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.

Symptoms can include tiredness, bruising, pale skin, shortness of breath and bone or joint pain.

According to the NHS, treatment can include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted medicine, a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

Gray, a grandfather-of-two, said he began feeling unwell over Christmas in 2022 but did not realise how seriously ill he was until he collapsed in A&E.

"I thought I'd just had a bad cold, and I'd even carried on working," he said.

"Tests showed all my healthy blood counts were on the floor. I had absolutely no idea."

Following his diagnosis, he spent seven weeks as an inpatient receiving chemotherapy at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, before continuing treatment as an ambulatory care patient.

After receiving a stem cell transplant on 16 May 2023, he recovered well enough to return to his part-time job as a lorry driver a few months later.

However, his time in hospital had prompted him to think about a career change.

He said he initially considered becoming a hospital porter, but wanted a role that would allow him to continue driving.

"I was outside the hospital one day and I watched patient transport bring people in and basically that's a porter's job on road. So that just seemed perfect," he said.

He has now worked in non-emergency patient transport for three years and remains in remission.

"One of the best things was when I first went back up to the day ward in my job rather than as a patient and I saw one of the nurses that treated me there," said Gray.

"To be there and to be better and doing something for others, it meant so much."

His wife, Sue, 62, said she had welcomed her husband's career change.

"It's not an easy job, it can be quite difficult at times, but you can tell it just brings him joy every day," she said.

According to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Hallamshire Hospital is a major centre for stem cell transplantation.

Dr Alex Kanellopoulos, consultant haematologist, said: "Everyone here is so proud of Ashley and all he has achieved following treatment."

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