Medics at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital say Amilah – who has aplastic anaemia – needs a stem cell transplant, but there is not currently a match on the register
The mum of a little girl with a potentially fatal blood disorder has made an emotional plea for more stem cell donors to come forward.
Mobeen Hussain’s nine-year-old daughter Amilah was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia earlier this year. The rare condition occurs when bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells. This makes it harder for the body to fight infection, stop bleeding and carry oxygen.
Medics at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital say Amilah needs a stem cell transplant, but there is not currently a match on the register. Mobeen, 42, said: “When we were told Amilah’s diagnosis, they said the only cure was a stem cell transplant. It needed to be treated soon and would be better when Amilah is well because she’d make a really good recovery.”
With the help of the Anthony Nolan charity, Mobeen has launched the Amilah Means Hope campaign to encourage 16 to 30-year-olds – particularly those from minority ethnic backgrounds – to sign the stem cell register and donate.
As Amilah has Pakistani heritage, she is less likely to find a donor on UK registers. Mobeen added: “The general awareness is just not there. Knowing it will be difficult for Amilah to find a donor makes me want to do something.”
A transplant would introduce healthy stem cells into Amilah’s bloodstream to help her body grow and produce new blood cells on its own. It would allow Amilah – which means hope in Arabic – to get back to her hobbies of horse riding and karate.
Mobeen said: “Until this happened, I didn’t realise that this [stem cell donation] is something people can do. Stem cell donation is giving a gift of life. It’s such a precious gift to give anyone.”
The diagnosis came after Amilah, who lives in Horsham, West Sussex, went to the doctor to investigate repeated bruising on her shins earlier this year. Blood tests showed low platelet counts and she was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in October.
Fewer than 150 people are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. It is most common in people aged 10 to 20, or over 60.
Yasmin Sheikh, head of policy and public affairs at Anthony Nolan, said: “Finding a donor for Amilah would mean giving her a second chance at life.”
People aged 16-30 who are in good health can sign up to the Anthony Nolan register here.
