A-League star, 21, asks fans to help save his life as he desperately searches for a bone marrow donor as he battles a deadly disease for the second time
- Izaack Powell played for Brisbane Roar at the age of 16
- Got sick for the first time in 2021 but overcame a health battle
- Has now asked fans for help as he needs a transplant
Brisbane Roar star Izaack Powell made a brave return to the field in February after overcoming leukemia – but has turned to fans for help as he seeks a bone marrow transplant to save his life now that the disease has returned.
The 21-year-old A-League player was first diagnosed with blood cancer in June 2021 and never doubted he would play again after becoming the A-League’s youngest-ever player when he debuted at just 16.
“I was always hopeful from the start and was told by the doctors that everything would be fine,” he said.
“In the end I just had to go through all the treatments, so I always looked forward to getting back to normal and being able to play football again.”
Unfortunately, Powell’s triumph over the deadly disease was short-lived.
Powell made a triumphant return to the field in February after being diagnosed with leukemia in June 2021
Sadly, the 21-year-old told his fans that the deadly disease had returned on Wednesday – asking them for help in his search for a life-saving bone marrow donor
“Unfortunately, after a recent checkup, I found out that my leukemia has relapsed,” Powell revealed Wednesday.
“Although I feel healthy now, I will need a bone marrow transplant as a long-term solution to cure the cancer.
“If you want to support in any way, you can join the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry to help myself and many others in a similar position.”
When he first beat the condition, Powell was quick to thank Aussies for helping them get back to full health.
“Wouldn’t have been here today without the generosity of blood donors across Australia,” he wrote on Instagram.
Powell made history as the Brisbane Roar’s youngest ever player when he made his debut aged just 16 years, 11 months and 28 days
When he first beat leukemia, the star was quick to thank the Aussie blood donors for their invaluable help – and now he needs football fans to help him again
“In the course of my treatment to date, I have required multiple transfusions of not only red blood, but also other blood products such as platelets and plasma.”
Powell was cleared to return to the field in mid-December 2022, saying his absence gave him a different perspective on the game.
“It was definitely tough having to sit out for so long and watch everyone play on, but I’m enjoying everything so much more now that I can play, I’m looking forward to my next day back,” he said.
He was a standout in Roar’s youth team, winning a grand final in his debut season before getting his first start in the A-League aged just 16 years, 11 months and 28 days.
“It was a very surreal experience being so young, I definitely didn’t expect it to happen so soon,” he said at the time.
If you want to help Powell beat leukemia by becoming a bone marrow donor, click this link and visit the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
