In a heartening turn of events for rock fans worldwide, Def Leppard’s legendary guitarist Vivian Campbell has announced that he is in complete remission from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This marks the first time since his initial diagnosis in 2013 that Campbell can confidently declare himself cancer-free, thanks to a successful stem cell transplant from a donor.
Campbell’s journey through this arduous battle has been anything but smooth. After an autologous stem cell transplant using his own cells failed to eliminate the cancer, Campbell faced a series of challenges, including a donor falling through last-minute. Yet, in a twist of fate, a new donor was found, and the procedure took place on New Year’s Eve. Now, after a decade-long fight and a grueling regimen of chemotherapy, Campbell is celebrating his clean bill of health.
In an interview with Eddie Trunk on Sirius XM’s Trunk Nation, Campbell expressed his immense gratitude and joy. “I got an early diagnosis, and 10 years ago I did an autologous stem cell transplant, which means using my own stem cells. That didn’t work. The cancer kept coming back,” he shared. Despite the setbacks, Campbell’s perseverance and the eventual donor transplant have paved the way for his recovery.
The identity of Campbell’s life-saving donor remains a mystery, at least for the time being. What he does know, however, is that the donor is a young 21-year-old man who matched all 10 genetic markers. “I don’t get to know who he is for a couple of years, but obviously, I’m gonna buy him a beer — or two or three!” Campbell quipped.
The guitarist praised his anonymous benefactor, emphasizing the selfless act of joining a donor registry. “It’s a testament to the unknown man’s character that he’d put his name on the donor registry, for no reason other than he’s a good person,” Campbell noted, highlighting the discomfort and bone pain involved in the donor procedure.
With Def Leppard gearing up for their summer tour, Campbell is looking forward to returning to the stage, having been temporarily replaced in some shows by John Zocco, the guitar tech for bandmate Phil Collen. The possibility of meeting his donor looms on the horizon, as after two years, recipients are given the option to contact their donors, a prospect Campbell eagerly anticipates.
For now, Vivian Campbell’s triumphant spirit and gratitude stand as a testament to the power of resilience and the kindness of strangers. Rock on, Vivian!
