The mother of a baby whose symptoms were initially put down to teething and tonsillitis has issued an urgent stem cell appeal to the public. Baby Reuben was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at just 10 months old.
The NHS states that AML is a rare type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. Symptoms of AML include feeling very tired or weak, looking more pale than usual, shortness of breath, bleeding or bruising easily or for no reason, getting ill a lot or taking longer than usual to recover from illnesses, a high temperature, pain in the bones or joints, a swollen tummy and swollen glands.
Family's world 'fell apart overnight'
Reuben's mum Mary, who works as a paramedic, said that her child had been unwell 'for a few days' with a persistent fever. However, she and husband Ashley initially thought he was teething. They soon brought Reuben, who is nicknamed Roo, to the GP, who suspected he was dealing with tonsillitis. However, follow-up tests resulted in the family being advised to go to hospital.
It was at the hospital where blood tests sadly showed that Reuben, from Norfolk, has AML. The family have been at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge ever since.
Speaking to PA, Mary, who did not want to share her surname, said: "We never thought it would be anything like leukaemia, it blindsided us. He's just a baby.
"We knew of leukaemia, but it didn't seem possible for it to be happening to us, we thought it was so rare. Our world fell apart overnight, and our family has been separated ever since. My daughters are having to stay with their grandparents right now. It still doesn't feel real."
Stem cell transplant needed
Once his genetic results came back, Mary and her family were informed that Reuben will need a stem cell transplant, or face the cancer returning after chemotherapy.
A stem cell transplant sees patients receive healthy stem cells from a donor. The stem cells go on to grow and create new healthy blood cells and platelets.
Reuben's sisters, Lyra, eight, and Cleo, four, are also being tested to see if they are a match. Currently waiting for the results, they're working with the Anthony Nolan charity on an appeal for more young people to join the stem cell register.
Mary said: "We feel terrible that his sisters are being tested to see if they're a match for Roo, they're so little. I am so scared that he might not find a match easily or quickly enough. The waiting and not knowing if Reuben will find a match is awful.
"We would do anything to increase his chances. We wish we could be stem cell donors for him ourselves. Since being on the oncology ward, we have spoken to other families who have had or who need stem cell transplants, there are far more children in similar situations than I ever realised.
"We want to make something positive come from our situation by calling on people to join the register, for our little Roo and for anyone else in need."
Anthony Nolan urges young people to sign up
Charlotte Cunliffe, director of register development at Anthony Nolan, stated: "It's heartbreaking that little Reuben was diagnosed with AML at just 10 months old.
"Sadly, we know that blood cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst children, teenagers and young adults in the UK. At Anthony Nolan we give hope to families affected by blood cancers and disorders, but we can't do it without the selfless donors that sign up to our register.
"If you are aged 16-30, please sign up to the Anthony Nolan register. You could be the match that someone like baby Reuben needs."
