Ross family's race against time to find stem cell donor match for blood cancer toddler
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A ROSS family is in a race against time to find a stem cell donor for their desperately ill toddler.
Two-and-a-half year-old Adeline Davidson is suffering from a rare blood cancer and a transplant could be her only chance.
An urgent appeal is being launched to encourage as many people as possible to join the herculean effort to find the lifesaving match.
“It's hellish," said anxious mum Steph. "Her bone marrow is failing and it’s not producing blood cells. The only cure for her is a bone marrow transplant. We're still waiting to hear about a donor match and I'm hoping it won't be much longer."
Just a few weeks ago Adeline was a normal hyperactive youngster who showed no sign of illness.
But during a routine check-up, the little girl's heath visitor thought she looked pale so her iron levels were checked.
"We couldn't believe it when the results came back showing her blood level was abnormally low - because we hadn’t noticed any change in her at all.” said Steph.
Just 10 days after the blood test Adeline was diagnosed with Myelodysplasia or MDS for short.
The rare type of blood cancer affects bone marrow.
And life for the Alness family has taken an unimaginably difficult twist.
"We are in a tricky situation because I’m pregnant with twins just now and I'm due in a few weeks so we have a lot going on,” said Steph.
“We’re just taking every day as it comes but it’s just been hectic since we found out. She gets blood transfusions and everyone is exhausted but she’s taking it all in her stride.
"She's just the most hyperactive loving excited little girl ever, she just gets on with it, she’s amazing."
The 25-year-old, who lives at Shillinghill, said friends and family have rallied round to help and many have been tested to find out if they are a bone marrow match.
Adeline's little friend Jessica Fraser has even had her hair cut in support.
Mrs Davidson said: “Jessica and Adeline just love each other so Jessica decided that she was going to cut her hair off because she was told Jessica’s hair would fall our when she was undergoing treatment., She’s such a brave little girl, it’s so lovely, we couldn’t get through all of this without the support of our amazing family and friends.”
Steph, who lives at Shillinghill with husband Jordan (27), is appealing for people's support.
Anyone between the ages 16 and 30 you can join the register online at anthonynolan.org/join. A cheek swab will be sent in the post. Anyone found to be a match could give their stem cells.
Nine out of ten people donate their stem cells via the bloodstream, in a straightforward process called peripheral blood stem cell collection.
One in ten donors will have their stem cells collected via the bone marrow itself, while under general anaesthetic.
Amy Bartlett, Anthony Nolan’s regional development manager for Scotland, said: “Every single person who signs up has the potential to give someone like Adeline a second chance at life”
