Stem cell plea for baby whose symptoms were put down to teething and tonsillitis

The mother of a baby boy whose cancer symptoms were put down to teething and tonsillitis has issued an urgent appeal for a stem cell donor.

Reuben, from Norfolk, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at just 10 months old.

His mother Mary, a paramedic, said he had been unwell “for a few days” with a persistent fever, but she and husband Ashley initially thought he was teething.

Reuben, from Norfolk, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when he was just 10 months old. His family, including mother Mary, are working with charity Anthony Nolan on an urgent plea for stem cell donors (family handout/PA)

The couple took Reuben – nicknamed Roo – to the GP, who suspected tonsillitis.

However, follow-up tests resulted in the family being advised to go to hospital, where blood tests showed Reuben had AML.

The family have been at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge ever since.

Mary, who did not want to share her surname, said: “We never thought it would be anything like leukaemia, it blindsided us. He’s just a baby.

“We knew of leukaemia, but it didn’t seem possible for it to be happening to us, we thought it was so rare.

“Our world fell apart overnight, and our family has been separated ever since.

“My daughters are having to stay with their grandparents right now.

“It still doesn’t feel real.”

When his genetic results came back, the family were told Reuben will need a stem cell transplant, or face the cancer returning after chemotherapy.

During the transplant, patients receive healthy stem cells from a donor, which grow to create new healthy blood cells and platelets.

Reuben’s sisters, Lyra, eight, and Cleo, four, are also being tested to see if they are a match.

While the family wait for the results, they are working with the Anthony Nolan charity on an appeal for more young people to joining the stem cell register.

Mary said: “We feel terrible that his sisters are being tested to see if they’re a match for Roo, they’re so little.

“I am so scared that he might not find a match easily or quickly enough.

“The waiting and not knowing if Reuben will find a match is awful.

“We would do anything to increase his chances.

“We wish we could be stem cell donors for him ourselves.

“Since being on the oncology ward, we have spoken to other families who have had or who need stem cell transplants, there are far more children in similar situations than I ever realised.

“We want to make something positive come from our situation by calling on people to join the register, for our little Roo and for anyone else in need.”

Charlotte Cunliffe, director of register development at Anthony Nolan, said: “It’s heartbreaking that little Reuben was diagnosed with AML at just 10 months old.

“Sadly, we know that blood cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst children, teenagers and young adults in the UK.

“At Anthony Nolan we give hope to families affected by blood cancers and disorders, but we can’t do it without the selfless donors that sign up to our register.

“If you are aged 16-30, please sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.

“You could be the match that someone like baby Reuben needs.”