LISTEN: Mum appeals for help after daughter misses out on crucial transplant for second time

A Fife mother is begging'' people to get tested for stem cell donation after her three-year-old daughter lost out on a life-saving transplant for the second time in four months.

Ava Stark was just 24 hours from going to hospital to prepare for the operation when her family was told the donor had to pull out for medical reasons.

Now, her mother Marie is urging people to have a simple test to find out if they can help save her daughter's life.

The youngster, from Lochgelly, has a rare blood disorder and will die without a stem cell transplant, but the donor has to be a perfect match with 10 out of 10 identical genetic markers.

A previous search of the 25 million donors on the global register following Ava's diagnosis in April with inherited bone marrow failure revealed just one match.

The donor agreed to help Ava with the operation scheduled for July but was later unable to go ahead.

The family were relieved when a second match was found and were due to take Ava to hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday to get ready for her transplant, but were devastated'' when doctors said the new donor had to pull out just hours before due to medical reasons.

Marie Stark spoke to our reporter Andrew Murray:

Any relatively healthy adult aged between 16 and 30 can sign up for the painless test through the Anthony Nolan Trust:

Older donors can register through Delete Blood Cancer, which takes people aged 17-55:

• Scottish News