Boy, 4, donates bone marrow to save sister

BROTHER and sister Harry and Beth Prendergast are as close as any other siblings. But after today they will be even closer when four-year-old Harry donates bone marrow to his little sister.

The 23-month old girl has an acute form of leukaemia and has had more than 30 platelet, or blood cell, transfusions since she was diagnosed last November. After the transplant today, her life will depend on donations of healthy blood cells.

Platelets are small blood cells essential for clotting and are present in the blood of all healthy people. Chemotherapy often damages patients’ bone marrow cells where the platelets are made and make the patients prone to spontaneous bleeding. Cancer patients, especially those with leukaemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow) often depend on platelet transfusions during their chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants in order for them to tolerate and benefit from their treatment.

According to the most recent statistics from the National Cancer Registry there were 26,700 cases of cancer diagnosed in 2005. In addition, there were 371 cases of leukaemia diagnosed that year, 642 cases of lymphoma and 202 cases of multiple myeloma.

Launching Platelet Donation Awareness Day 2008 yesterday, Beth’s mother Kim, from Summerhill, Co Meath, appealed to people to donate blood cells.

“Beth was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in November 2007 and since then she has had 31 platelet transfusions. Today, Beth is having a bone marrow transplant with bone marrow donated by her brother Harry, and she will be completely dependent on platelets. Platelet donors are heroes in my eyes and I am so full of admiration for their selflessness.

“We are incredibly thankful to all those who donate and we encourage other people to find out more about platelet donation as there are many other adults and children like Beth who need platelets every day.”

The awareness campaign is organised by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and the Irish Cancer Society. Dr William Murphy, national medical director of the IBTS said: “The demand for platelets in Ireland has increased by 50% over the past five years largely because of the number of new cancer cases, and this demand is going to increase steadily. The National Cancer Registry estimates in 2010, 29,800 cases of cancer will be diagnosed.

“Donation is simple, taking on average just 45 to 70 minutes. In this short time a donor can help save up to three lives.”

* For further information on becoming a platelet donor text “Platelet” to 53377, email ann.o’[e-mail] or telephone [phone]. If based in Cork, contact Sharon O’Keeffe on [phone].

The National Cancer Helpline can be contacted on Freefone 1800 200 700 (weekdays 9am — 5pm, Tuesdays until 9pm).