UPDATE: Possible matches found for north blood disorder toddler
We were told the chances of us being suitable donors were slim because we carried the disorder.
Several possible international bone marrow donors have been found for the Pretoria North toddler diagnosed with an inherited blood disorder.
The toddler’s father Dewald Slabbert said 46 possible donors had been identified overseas.
However, he cautioned “a lot of things” still needed to be done and millions of rands raised before the bone marrow transplant could be carried out.
“The doctor informed us we had to look at raising around R2 million,” he said.
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Earlier this year, Slabbert and his wife were tested to establish if they were suitable donors.
“We were told the chances of us matching were slim because we are the carriers,” he said.
No matches were found through the Sunflower Fund – an organisation aiming to fight blood diseases and maintaining a registry of potential donors – either.
Duan Slabbert (previously Swart) was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder known as Fanconi anaemia (FA) in November last year, following months of uncertainty and hospital visits due to his ill-health.
The three-year-old was diagnosed after a nurse suggested he be tested for cancer.
The test revealed he had leukaemia – a cancer of blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow and hindered the body’s ability to fight infection.
ALSO READ: Blood disorder detected in north toddler after on-going uncertainty
His first symptoms had a loss of weight when he was only six months old.
Slabbert said the family had plans to raise the millions of rand for the transplant.
According to the Sunflower Fund, Slabbert will undergo treatment to remove the abnormal cells through conditioning therapy before the transplant was done while new stem cells would be infused into his blood the following day.
The new cells will move to the bone marrow and start producing blood cells leading to the development of a new immune system which will recognise and remove the remaining abnormal cells.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), in the US, FA is a rare, inherited blood disorder which leads to bone marrow failure.
“FA prevents your bone marrow from making enough new blood cells for your body to work normally,” the institute website read.
“It can also cause your bone marrow to make many faulty blood cells. This can lead to serious health problems, such as leukaemia.”
Those interested in assisting the family with funds can contact Slabbert on 068 039 9966 or follow Duan’s Facebook page – Stand together for Duan.
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