Health · Beacon Post
An 18-month-old boy with a rare blood condition has been given "a second chance at life" after undergoing a life-saving stem cell transplant, his mum has said. Ronnie, from Wirral on Merseyside, was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia - which is fatal if left untreated - a week before his first birthday in March last year. He underwent the transplant after a suitable anonymous match was found in the US, with Ronnie's mum Laura saying: "I can't describe the feeling of what the donor did for our little boy." The 31-year-old said Ronnie was "doing absolutely amazing" back home after the transplant in August.
She said: "Thank you will never be enough for him [the donor], but I think to say it face to face and even if he was able to meet our little boy, that he's given a second chance at life, it would be amazing. "But no words will ever show our appreciation for him." Aplastic anaemia occurs when the bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells for the body to work normally, with about 100 to 150 new cases in the UK every year. "It's been one of the craziest and hardest years but we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," said Laura.
She said Ronnie had just started crawling when she noticed he was bruising more and three days later she noticed blood coming from his nose, blisters in his mouth, and red dots on his body. Ronnie underwent the stem cell transplant at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and also underwent treatment at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. Laura said that "the donor cells have worked the magic" and he was at 100% donor cells and was now producing his own white and red blood cells and platelets as well.
Laura said Ronnie had shown great strength throughout his treatment and recovery, explaining that "as soon as he got home [from hospital], he straight away ran to his little toy corner and got his toys out". "He just kept being the Ronnie that we know him to be, which is a joyful strong little boy," she said. She said they were told by medics that Ronnie would probably go off his food during treatment but this had "never ever happened" and he continued to enjoy it.
She said Ronnie was now walking and running around the house, although they have to isolate due to the risk of infections as he has a condition called neutropenia, which reduces white blood cells that are essential for fighting bacterial infections. Medics have told the family they should be able to resume their favourite family activities, such as visiting the zoo or going swimming, in February or March of next year. Laura said they may not be able to take Ronnie out to pick a pumpkin for Halloween, but they would still be celebrating at home and "we are still going to get him dressed up".
She said it was crucial for her and her partner and their eight-year-old son Regan to be able to make memories to tell Ronnie about as he grows up.
Source: BBC
