My Journey With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

My name is Shehnaz Ossman, I’m 52 years old and live in the UK. My passion is baking, gardening and travelling. I was a primary school teacher and also volunteered in a school to work with kids that have special needs. I’m a mother, a grandmother and a wife.

In July 2024, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). After months of treatment and 2 aggressive forms of chemo, my doctors delivered the good news: I was in remission. But as the doctors explained, my genetic mutation made the fight far from over. A stem cell transplant was my only chance for long-term survival. Being from Indian descent and in an ethnic minority the chance for a match is only a 30% chance.


Although my doctors were optimistic, the search for a stem cell donor proved to be a monumental challenge. My two daughters, once potential matches, were no longer viable candidates. It turned out that during my pregnancies, my body had created antibodies that rendered their cells incompatible for the transplant.

We’re still fighting to find a match and I will undergo maintenance chemo until we do.


I find strength in my family’s support and in the lessons learned from my years as a mother, grandmother, wife, teacher, and volunteer.

Being a mother and a grandmother has given me an entirely new perspective on this journey. And so, I continue my battle—one day at a time. The road ahead remains uncertain, but I refuse to be defined by my diagnosis.



You can be a match, to save a life.