AA voices is the area of our website where people affected by aplastic anaemia share the stories they feel are important, in their own words.
Click here to meet our regular bloggers and browse posts by author.
Or filter stories below by category:
On 25 November 1985, in Zimbabwe, Cheryl was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia and told she would not survive beyond three months. Forty years later, she's recently married, and the man who treated her, Prof Ted Gordon Smith, was there to see it. Cheryl's new husband Steve shares the story. Read more
For our 2024 Christmas appeal, we spoke to Barbara, who told us all about how the connection and support she found through The AAT made all the difference when she was at her most poorly with aplastic anaemia. Read more
Aplastic anaemia can feel like it has robbed you of the things that give life joy and meaning. But Barbara wanted to help us to show people that there is light at the end. Read more
Barbara had been in hospital in isolation, but on the first day she was allowed to leave the room - she walked out of the building, across the road to the Maggie's centre and found Zoe. Read more
Lily, Dan, Henry and Elin talk about what it’s like being a sibling that isn’t a match, feeling like a burden and wanting to protect those you love from your own pain Read more
Lily, Dan, Elin and Henry prove it's good to talk, even if it's about awkward subjects, reaching out, finding happiness, and looking for unexpected moments of humour and light when things get tough. Read more
I was listening to words I did not understand. I was then sent to another department for x rays and blood tests. That was when I cried. Having never had a major illness in my life I was suddenly really scared. Read more
My treatment for aplastic anaemia went miraculously well, so I was surprised about the impact on my mental health when I returned to work. Read more
For those at the treatment stage; be patient, draw strength from within and those around you. Remember all times come to pass and never to stay. For those post treatment, be bold and do not be held captive by fear. I genuinely feel lucky to have experienced what I have. For you can never appreciate life until you have nearly lost it. Read more
in the video I've decided to discuss the side effects I've had from the medications needed to help with AA. I spoke about cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Read more
Being diagnosed with aplastic anaemia was a frightening and isolating time. Joining The Aplastic Anaemia Trust's online support groups has helped me find how to get help. Read more
When I was initially diagnosed with aplastic anaemia I was told that the treatment I would need would be a bone marrow transplant. The first thing I asked was who was going to be my donor. Read more
Why are doctors just watching and waiting for me to get worse? It made no sense to me! Fix me now!? Read more
I decided to make a video to help people understand PICC lines: why they're inserted, how they are cleaned, risks of having them etc. Read more
A FAQ video to answer the questions I've been asked: How was I diagnosed? When can I go back to work? Am I bored? How did I deal with being diagnosed during the Covid-19 pandemic? What were the signs? How often am I followed up now I'm at home? How did the raffle go? Did the rash go? Is my AA related to my alopecia? What happens next? Read more