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The family of a two-year-old boy who has spent most of his life in hospital battling a rare and life-threatening blood disorder have made an urgent plea stem cell The donor.
Mason was diagnosed with Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS) at the age of one. WAS is a genetic condition that affects how a child’s body fights infection, including easy bruising, eczema, bloody diarrhea and prolonged bleeding after small bumps or scratches.
The condition affects boys almost exclusively, about three out of every million worldwide, as it is caused by errors in a section of DNA written on the X chromosome.
Men have only one copy of this chromosome, while women have two copies, providing a backup that makes them less likely to develop the trait.
Due to the severity of his condition, Mason is unable to play with other children and has spent most of his life receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. London,
Doctors have now told his mother Stella, 34, and father Elsie, 32, that their son needs stem cell transplant to survive.
Stella said: “It’s one of those things you think only happens to people on TV.”
The family you belong to Greece And albaniaworking with anthony nolan for their #MatchforMaison campaign, and are urging 16 to 30 year olds to join the stem cell register.
Stella, who has given up her job as a hairdresser to care for Mason, said: “We’re not thinking too far into the future right now, just taking it day by day.
“All we can do is be there for Mason every day until he gets to the other end. But even then, it will take some time for us to get our lives back in order.”
Stella said her son had no symptoms, and she initially took him to the hospital after he was allergic to some food.
“I thought he might have eczema because he had spots all over his body and then the doctors said it might be a blood infection,” she said.
“It was difficult for Mason to go through all those tests – they are traumatic for him, and he doesn’t understand why. As soon as he finds out he’s going to the hospital, he panics, sometimes he cries so much that he faints – it’s incredibly stressful for all of us.”
Mason’s grandfather Dee said the last 18 months have been difficult for the entire family.
He said: “So we want to use this opportunity to raise awareness not only about Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, but also about stem cell donation as a potentially life-saving treatment for blood disorders and blood cancers.
“We hope that by working together anthony nolan By telling Mason’s story, many people will be encouraged to join the stem cell register and become potential lifesavers.
Charlotte Cunliffe, Director of Register Development anthony nolanSaid that Mason’s story is “particularly poignant”.
The Anthony Nolan Charity was founded in 1974 by Shirley Nolan, whose son Anthony was also born there.
“The last few years have been really difficult for Mason and his family,” Ms Cunliffe said.
“At Anthony Nolan, our goal is to give hope to families affected by blood disorders and blood cancers, but we can’t do this without the selflessness of our lifesaving donors.
“Mason’s story is particularly poignant because he has the same rare blood disorder as Anthony Nolan, the little boy who inspired the creation of our charity and the world’s first stem cell register.
“If you’re aged 16-30, please sign up to the Anthony Nolan Register. You could be a life-saving match for someone like Mason.”