Help for Henry

Henry is a happy, kind, and sporty 10-year-old from Sussex. He has been diagnosed with a blood disorder, severe aplastic anaemia. Henry urgently needs a stem cell transplant and with no matching donor in the family, we are reaching out to encourage you to register as a stem cell donor, not only for Henry but for so many others that are relying on the stem cell register.

It all began when Henry’s parents noticed that he was breathless and lightheaded when participating in the sports he had always loved. They decided to take him for a routine blood test, where doctors were shocked to find that many important elements of his blood were dangerously low. He was sent for a barrage of tests and blood transfusions, and hospital stays and appointments across London and Sussex have become part of his day-to-day life. A bone marrow biopsy eventually revealed a diagnosis of severe aplastic anaemia, a serious blood disorder. The optimal treatment for this is a stem cell transplant, but just 7% of eligible people in the UK are registered as potential donors, and Henry does not yet have an ideal match.

Henry’s parents say, “Throughout all this time Henry has been so positive and resilient, despite the gruelling schedule of blood transfusions and tests. Beneath his bravado, he is still a frightened little boy who needs help from a stem cell donor to get his life back to normality. We’re asking everyone who can to consider joining the register to help Henry, and the many others who also need a match.”

Joining the stem cell register with DKMS takes just a few minutes, and some simple cheek swabs. Everyone in general good health, aged between 16-55 is eligible to sign up.