Stem cell transplant at The Christie saved grandad's life after hospital used two babies' umbilical cords

12 Feb 2014 06:00

David Pyne, 60, underwent a remarkable stem cell transplant at The Christie hospital using the babies umbilical cords

A grandad whose leukaemia fight left him with around 18 months to live has had his life saved... by two babies.

David Pyne, 60, underwent a remarkable stem cell transplant at The Christie hospital using the babies umbilical cords.

He is among the first patients at the hospital to undergo the transplant after all other treatments were exhausted.

David said: I was truly amazed when my doctor at The Christie said we could use this option. To think that two newborns saved an old mans life is just marvellous and its given me more time with my own grandchildren.

Dad-of-four and grandfather-of-seven David, from Baguley, Wythenshawe, was diagnosed with leukaemia following routine blood tests in August 2012. He began chemotherapy and blood transfusions. In 2012, a search for a stem cell donor was launched, but no members of his family proved a match and no other donors could be found. It left David with a life expectancy of around 12 to 18 months.

But in September, David underwent the transplant using stem cells from the umbilical cords of a baby born in America and one born in France.

Their parents had already agreed to allow the stems cells to be harvested and banked with a view to helping save another persons life. Patients with cancers such as leukaemia need bloodstemcellsto replace their own damagedcells.

The two donor babies were found to be a good match and their cells were flown to The Christie in Withington. The technique is relatively new and available on the NHS. The hospital has carried out six similar transplants in the past year.

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Stem cell transplant at The Christie saved grandad's life after hospital used two babies' umbilical cords