{"id":139738,"date":"2025-09-13T08:28:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T08:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/139738\/"},"modified":"2025-09-13T08:28:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T08:28:09","slug":"the-desperate-hunt-for-the-one-in-a-million-who-could-save-a-dying-mans-life-but-time-is-fast-running-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/139738\/","title":{"rendered":"The desperate hunt for the one in a million who could save a dying man’s life – but time is fast running out…"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA <\/p>\n

Published: 01:38 EDT, 13 September 2025 | Updated: 01:38 EDT, 13 September 2025 <\/p>\n

An active and healthy Queenslander whose back pain revealed a horror leukaemia diagnosis has joined thousands of Aussies in the search for a donor.<\/p>\n

Greg Mason, 57, discovered he had\u00a0Acute Myeloid\u00a0Leukaemia (AML) seven weeks ago and is now waiting for a stem cell donor.<\/p>\n

Julie Mason told Daily Mail her husband had developed back pain in mid-July and that within a week the pain had spread down to his legs.<\/p>\n

After two weeks of struggling to find the source of the pain, a routine blood test at Redland Hospital,\u00a0Brisbane<\/a>, revealed the devastating diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘We presented at emergency on Saturday and were told he had leukaemia on Monday. If we hadn’t gone in, he could’ve been dead in five days,’ Mrs Mason said.<\/p>\n

She initially fell down a dark rabbit hole after reading about AML online, but quickly decided negativity wouldn’t help her or her husband.<\/p>\n

‘We made a conscious decision to focus on the positive side of everything and try to laugh as much as possible because laughter is the best medicine,’ she said.<\/p>\n

However, there is one major roadblock that has made it difficult for the couple to remain positive – Mr Mason is in desperate need of a stem cell donor.<\/p>\n

\"Greg <\/p>\n

Greg Mason (pictured with his wife, Julie Mason) was diagnosed with leukaemia after he started feeling fatigued and experienced persistent back pain for two weeks<\/p>\n

\"Mr <\/p>\n

Mr Mason (pictured) has three months to find a stem cell donor<\/p>\n

People aged between 18 and 35 can donate stem cells through a more specialised blood donation, with young men considered the best candidates.<\/p>\n

‘It’s quite cool – they put a catheter in each arm, blood comes out of one arm and goes through a machine that sifts out your stem cells, then your blood is pumped back into your other arm,’ Mrs Mason said.<\/p>\n

‘Greg, or any other patient, then gets those stem cells transfused into him and they can repopulate his body in a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

‘I have seen stories of people going into remission and living an active and healthy life for another 22 years. It’s amazing.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

In order to have the best chance of beating leukaemia, Mr Mason will need a stem cell transfusion within the next three months.<\/p>\n

Australia is currently experiencing a critical shortage of donors, with Australians urged to donate stem cells through Australian Red Cross Lifeblood<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Donors undergo a blood test to ensure the proteins on their stem cells match those of a recipients, who could be a patient from anywhere around the world.<\/p>\n

As September is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, the Masons have encouraged as many people as possible to donate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Mr <\/p>\n

Mr Mason (pictured) hoped his story would encourage more Aussies to donate stem cells<\/p>\n

‘How amazing would it feel to save a life?’ Mrs Mason said. ‘What a great gift you could give someone.’<\/p>\n

Her posts on social media have already gained thousands of reactions, with many promising to join the donor registry.<\/p>\n

The couple have also urged anyone with unusual symptoms to get a blood test.<\/p>\n

‘One thing Greg has said over the last seven weeks is he used to blow it off if he was a bit fatigued,’ Mrs Mason said.<\/p>\n

‘So many of us are the same, we never go and get checked out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘If you’ve got some unexplained bruising, weird aches and pains or even if you’re more tired than usual, get a blood test.<\/p>\n

‘It could save your life.’<\/p>\n

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