Blackburn boy saved by marrow transplant after illness left him fighting for his life

Blackburn boy saved by marrow transplant after illness left him fighting for his life

3:46pm Monday 28th April 2014 in News By Sophia Rahman, Reporter

A BLACKBURN business boss whose six-year-old has a rare genetic disease is urging people to sign up to a stem cell register after a donor saved his sons life.

Sam Fletcher, director of marketing agency Twentyone, based in Eanam Wharf, went through the most traumatic period of his life when his son, Charlie, fell ill with Fanconi Anemia.

The disorder, which affects one in 350,000 people, meant Charlie was unable to produce blood cells, leaving him fighting for his life last year.

Charlie then spent 12 months in and out of Manchester Childrens Hospital, going through radiotherapy, chemotherapy and one unsuccessful bone marrow transplant.

Eventually, only-child Charlie received a successful transplant of stem cells from a donor umbilical cord, and was able to return to school in February.

Mr Fletcher, 32, of King Street, Whalley, said: It was the most traumatic year of my life.

The chemotherapy and radiotherapy changed him beyond all recognition, making him swollen and his hair fall out. It was just terrible.But he never moaned about being stuck in bed for six months. Im so proud of him.

I always had hope, and luckily everything worked out well. Now hes fit and well and doing everything all six-year-olds do.

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Blackburn boy saved by marrow transplant after illness left him fighting for his life