Mother donates stem cells to save her son’s life

THE eldest of four sons diagnosed with the same rare disease underwent a transplant operation after his mother donated bone marrow, it was confirmed yesterday.

David and Allison Hartley’s four sons, Joshua, aged 12, Nathan, aged 10, Daniel, aged eight, and Luke, aged four, were diagnosed with the extremely rare genetic defect known as X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome, or Duncan’s Syndrome, in November last year.

Doctors say the only cure for the boys, from Romsey, England, is a bone marrow transplant.

Mrs Hartley was matched as a donor for Joshua and a potential donor has been found for Daniel, but matches are still required for Nathan and Luke.

Joshua had the transplant operation between 6.30pm and 8.30pm yesterday at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, following a week of chemotherapy.

Mrs Hartley underwent a four-hour Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection (PBSC) earlier in the day as an out-patient.

She had a five-day course of injections before the procedure during which the cells were removed through a needle injected in her arm.

Mr Hartley said: “The infusion of the stem cells went without a hitch.

“Indeed Allison produced far more stem cells that were needed. “The actual procedure was really quite an anti-climax for the family as it looks just like he was receiving a blood transfusion.”

He added: “Joshua is doing well and has tolerated the chemotherapy with only, to date, a small amount of sickness. He is very tired due to the chemotherapy, but otherwise in good spirits.

“It will now be a number of weeks before we will know if the infusion has been successful.”

Mr Hartley was at his son’s side talking to him throughout the transplant and the 12-year-old was said to be fit enough to watch television and play video games yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the Anthony Nolan Trust said that Joshua had high doses of chemotherapy in order to stop his body rejecting the healthy stem cells from his mother.

The healthy bone marrow cells were infused by a Hickman Line into his vein. The cells will take a few weeks to make their way into Joshua’s bone marrow and start to make healthy blood cells. He will have a very low immunity during this time and will stay in isolation in hospital until his white blood cell count has recovered.

The Anthony Nolan Trust is still appealing for more donors aged between 18 and 40, particularly young males.

For information on donating call 0901 8822234 or visit the charity’s website at www.anthonynolan.org.uk