Young Mother Faces Urgent Stem Cell Transplant Delay, Fundraising for Life-Saving Treatment
A 29-year-old New Zealand mother of two is facing a critical delay in receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant for acute myeloid leukemia, potentially forcing her to raise over $1 million for treatment in Australia. Loran Geddes’s case highlights the challenges patients face navigating wait times and funding gaps within the New Zealand healthcare system.
Diagnosis and Initial Treatment
Loran Geddes was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November 2025, though she initially dismissed symptoms like bruising, fatigue, and night sweats as normal for a busy mother and breastfeeding woman. The diagnosis came after experiencing severe chest pains. Following her diagnosis, Geddes began chemotherapy and was immediately placed on the waitlist for an allogeneic stem cell transplant – the only potential cure for her high-risk leukemia.
The Search for a Donor and Mounting Delays
A suitable donor was found in the UK, as neither of Geddes’s siblings nor anyone in the New Zealand database was a match. Despite achieving remission in January after her second cycle of chemotherapy, Geddes faced frustrating delays. Initially told May was the earliest possible transplant date, her appointment was then pushed to August – nine months after her diagnosis. Further delays indicate she now faces a potentially life-threatening wait.
“Those words from the doctor were the hardest things to hear,” Geddes stated. “The waiting for a transplant is really risky for me. These delays put me in a position of potential relapse.”
Funding Boost and Persistent Wait Times
While the New Zealand government announced a $27 million funding boost in November 2025 to address capacity issues and recruit specialist staff for stem cell transplants, Geddes and others are not seeing immediate benefits. The funding, which followed a $6.11 million investment in 2024, aims to increase transplant numbers over the next three years. However, current wait times remain significant.
As of December 2025, 228 patients were on the transplant waitlist, with 110 requiring a donor. In Auckland, patients waited an average of 184 days for a transplant between March and November 2025, including 82 days after being medically ready. Health New Zealand is developing waiting time standards for stem cell transplants.
“They don’t have the capacity for patients. They haven’t had the funding previously,” Geddes explained. “I’d really like to realize where some of the funding has been used so far.”
Exploring Options in Australia and Fundraising Efforts
With limited options in New Zealand, Geddes is now considering treatment in Australia. A private transplant in Australia would cost approximately $1.2 million, excluding relocation expenses for her family. To cover these costs, Geddes’s family has launched a Givealittle page to raise funds.
“The fact that we’re having to look outside of this country for other options to try and save my life, I feel like we’re pretty failed by this healthcare system and this country,” Geddes said.
Systemic Concerns and Advocacy
Blood Cancer New Zealand has expressed concern over Geddes’s situation, stating that timely access to transplants is crucial for survival and that the current wait times are “neither clinically nor ethically acceptable.” They continue to advocate for increased urgency and resources to prevent similar cases in the future.
Health Minister Simeon Brown stated that ensuring access to stem cell transplants is a priority, but Geddes argues that this sentiment doesn’t reflect the reality for patients facing lengthy delays.