A 10-year-old boy is searching for a stem cell donor to give him a 'second chance of life'. Henry Teare was training for his school triathlon when he fell ill. His parents Alison and Peter were shocked to discover he had a rare and life-threatening blood disorder.
Diagnosis and treatment
Henry's mother Alison said: “Henry is naturally pale, but we had noticed that he wasn’t rosy cheeked like he used to be. He started feeling breathless and felt lightheaded after running, but initially we just thought that this was to do with his fitness levels.”
His haemoglobin and platelet levels were dangerously low, and he also had a heart murmur due to the low red blood cell count. Henry was transferred to the High Dependency Unit and had an emergency blood transfusion that night. He was transferred to London for a bone marrow biopsy, which confirmed he had severe aplastic anaemia.
Family's plea
“We had an overwhelming sense of shock and disbelief,” said Alison. “Henry has shown so much positivity and resilience. He approaches everything with a ‘can do’ attitude. He even helps the community nurse take his blood. It has to have a massive impact on him but he has never once said, ‘Why me?’”
The Mirror previously joined forces with DKMS to find a donor for Leo Sproson, from Bromsgrove, and for Jasper Makungu, 12, who has sickle cell disease.
How to help
DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes said: “For Henry and patients like him, a total stranger joining the register could give them their lives back. The process is very simple, it’s so easy to give someone a second chance. Joining the register only requires answering a few questions, and a few simple and painless mouth swabs. It takes ten minutes of your time, but you could be the match that Henry, or someone else like him, is waiting for.”
Most people who join the stem cell donor register will never be called to donate, but if matched, nine out of ten times the donation can be completed through a simple, non-surgical procedure, similar to donating blood platelets. DKMS supports donors every step of the way.
To find out more or order a swab kit, visit: dkms.org.uk
