Last week Dr Danny Ryan heard the news that his future is hanging on.
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Just over a year ago he was diagnosed with a rare type of lymphatic cancer which is proving resistant to chemotherapy.
"Without treatment, the likelihood is I'll be dead in a couple of years," he said.
Dr Ryan said the most viable treatment in his case is a bone marrow infusion from a donor, which is more likely to recognise the cancer as a foreign body and start to attack, where Dr Ryan's immune system has failed to.
But out of 28 million registered bone marrow donors worldwide, there is only one complete match for Dr Ryan.
Last Thursday Dr Ryan travelled up to Brisbane to hear that his donor match - his 22-year-old American lifeline - has agreed to make a donation.
For me, it's a relief.
- Dr Danny Ryan
The donor will now have daily injections for about five days of Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to stimulate his bone marrow to produce lots of cells.
This causes stem cells to spill into his blood stream which will then be harvested after an apheresis machine separates his different blood cells - like milk from cream.
He will be connected to this machine for about five hours with his blood flowing out from a needle in one arm and returned through a needle in the other arm. He may experience some discomfort in his bones from the stimulation of his bone marrow and the discomfort of a few needles but there is no surgery involved and no ill effects afterwards.
The donated cells will then be flown to Australia and Dr Ryan will tentatively be booked in to receive them via infusion in late September in Brisbane.
Despite this amazing news, he said he's still feeling apprehensive: "It's a significant procedure, and there are still lots of risks".
There is only a 40 percent chance for long-term disease-free survival. Forty percent of patients undergoing the treatment will have long-term complications, and 20 percent will die during the process.
"So it's pretty daunting, but the alternative for someone like me is that eventually the disease becomes resistant to chemotherapy," he said.
For someone with a metaphorical guillotine perched above his neck, Dr Ryan is remarkably calm.
"I've learned to take it just one step at a time - cancer treatment is a marathon rather than a sprint. I'm not afraid of dying. I've had a marvellous life, a very privileged life. Having said that, I'm only 60. Given the opportunity, I'd love to do more."
There has been an outpouring of earnest desire to help from the community. But, ever the doctor, his concern is for others - he would like to encourage eligible donors to sign up to the registry. You might be able to save someone's life...in Dr Ryan's honour.
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Mel Leigh Dee
Mel is a journalist at the Guardian News and is based in Macksville.
Mel is a journalist at the Guardian News and is based in Macksville.
