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.