Would you like to meet a real life hero? Well look no further than 21-year-old Angelo Rossi, of Carew. For he has recently given the greatest gift of all - life. Angelo, an LSA in the infant additional needs unit at Monkton Priory School, has donated bone marrow to help save the life of someone seriously ill. Angelo, who is celebrating his 21st birthday today (Friday), joined the Welsh Blood Service bone marrow registry during a routine blood donation session at Pembroke Town Hall last year. "I didn't think anything of it at the time," Angelo told the Observer this week. "Then in December, I had a text message saying I could be a potential match. I 'phoned the Welsh Blood Service straight back and that set the ball rolling." Four months of medical tests later, Angelo underwent his lifesaving operation. "I will get a progress report in three months and then after two years it may be possible for me to meet the recipient," explained Angelo. "The bone marrow donation process has really been a good thing to go through. You don't realise how important these things are until you do it. It really was worthwhile," he continued. "I did feel rough for about two weeks after the operation, but it was nothing compared to the pain and suffering the recipient has had to deal with." Angelo's recovery has been aided by the support of all the doctors and nurses, Welsh Blood Service staff, together with his family, friends and colleagues. "Everyone has been so kind and supportive," Angelo added. "All the tests and the operation itself went so smoothly, I really can't believe I have done it. Now I just wish the recipient well for the future and hope I have helped them to get better and enjoy life as much as I do." Tracey Rees, head of Welsh transplant and immunogenic at the Welsh Blood Service, said: "What a hero! A patient somewhere in the world has been given a second chance because an anonymous donor - someone like Angelo joined the registry with the intention of giving a patient hope and a chance of life. It is an act of enormous kindness which has given the chance of life where there was little chance before." The Welsh Blood Service need more bone marrow donors as there are still many patients today searching for a suitable match. The more volunteers on the registry, the higher the chance of finding a match for patients living throughout the world! For further information, please contact the Welsh Blood Service on 0800 252266 or visit http://www.welshblood.org.uk">www.welshblood.org.uk