A desperate family who had just three weeks to find a stem cell donor for their toddler have found a match – in Singapore.
Four-year-old Esha Nadeswaran was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in May of this year, and spent 15 weeks at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
After two cycles of chemotherapy which proved to be sadly been ineffective, the family appealed online to find a donor from the South Asian Community – a heavily underrepresented ethnicity on the donor registry.
Since September, the family of Esha have been organising drop-in testing events around the country to help find a matching donor.
But now, after months of campaigning, the family have announced they have found a matching in donor in Singapore.
Esha, from London, is due to have her life-saving transplant next week, after a period of pre-transplant intensive conditioning chemotherapy.
In a touching post on social media, the family said: “We had a lengthy wait for the results of the latest round of chemotherapy, followed by some deliberation by the doctors whether or not to proceed with the stem cell transplant, which, needless to say, was a shock to us all. We thought proceeding with the transplant after the third cycle was given.
“Thankfully, the doctors have agreed to go ahead with the transplant.”
The family had to widen their search for a successful transplant, by looking at a global donor register.
They added: “Thanks to Esha’s one match, located in Singapore.
“This fact truly highlights the scarcity of BAME donor and the need to continue campaigning for more donor from ethnic minorities worldwide.
“The hospital are legally not allowed to provide us with any personal information regarding the donor.
“All they have told is that the donor is from Singapore.
“We are eternally grateful to this donor. If only they too were allowed to know this.
“We extend our gratitude to all the wonderful people who joined the stem cell registry in the UK and worldwide during our campaign, with the hope of being a match to Esha or any other that may be in her situation.
“We have now moved down to the bone marrow transplant ward and into our “bubble” which will be home for the next… well, however long it takes for Esha to recover.
“Getting used to the claustrophobic conditions and stringent hygiene regulations has been a challenge, but this is essential for Esha’s wellbeing.
“Esha has now start the pre-transplant intensive conditioning chemotherapy which intends to wipe out her bone marrow and immune system entirely.
“The actual transplant will take place next week.
“The weeks and months to follow are anticipated to be the toughest she has faced yet, as the effects of the conditioning chemotherapy, and the transplant of the new donor cells, kick in.
“Please, please keep praying for her, it most certainly will be a scary intense and long journey ahead.”
