My little boy is fighting for his life after complaining of back pain – you could save him
MANY people suffer with back pain, whether that's from poor posture or a sporting injury.
Teenager Daniel Greer had been struggling with this - as well as neck pain.
But rather than an injury or pull - a blood test confirmed a shocking diagnosis.
The 14-year-old from Northern Ireland was told he had acute myeloid leukaemia two months ago.
Now his family are racing to find a stem cell donor - as this is his only chance of survival.
Since his diagnosis, the music fanatic has been staying at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and is being treated with aggressive chemotherapy.
Doctors say that a stem cell transplant will help repair his immune system - but only one in four people will find a match within their own family.
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His older brother James, sadly isn't a match so Daniel will need a transplant from an unrelated donor.
Mum, Anne, is now speaking out in the hopes of getting more people to sign up to the stem cell register - with the possibility of finding her son a donor.
She said: "Daniel is an amazing, bright young man who lights up any room he walks into.
"His wicked sense of humour keeps our spirits up, even now while he’s in hospital receiving chemotherapy.
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"I know he’s really proud that his story is inspiring people to sign up to the stem cell register.
"Those people will potentially help him, as well as many other people around the world who desperately need a stem cell transplant like Daniel."
When it comes to the stem cell register, young men make up just 18 per cent of those on it, blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan states.
However, this demographic also makes up more than half of all stem cell transplants for blood cancer and blood disorder patients.
Now the charity is helping with an international appeal to get Daniel a donor, dubbed the DoItForDaniel campaign.
Daniel, lives in Newry and so far local pharmacies have got behind the campaign - urging people to sign up to help save the lives of others.
What is leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects cells in bone marrow and attacks the immune system.
In most cases of leukaemia, there is no obvious cause. Little Azaylia had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) , which is a rapidly progressive form of the illness.
Leukaemia is a cancer that leads to the body making too many abnormal white blood cells and means the body is less likely to be able to defend itself against infection.
These blood cells are not fully developed and are called leukaemia cells.
The disease is often classified as the type of cell affected (myeloid or lymphatic) and how it progresses (acute or chronic).
There are four main types of leukaemia.
Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL) - A rapidly progressing form of the disease. More common in children.
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) - Rapidly progressive. More common in adults.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) - Slowly progressing form and more common in adults.
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) - Progresses slowly and is more common in adults
There has also been an awareness-raising drive about stem cell donation at Belfast International Airport.
It's hoped that the drive will allow the keen mountain biker and rugby player to continue to do the things he enjoys most.
Anthony Nolan chief executive Henny Braund said that finding a matching donor would mean everything to Daniel and his family.
"We are committed to supporting Daniel as he waits for news of the donor who could save his life.
“Last year over 1,300 people around the world with blood cancer or a blood disorder were given a second chance of life because of the wonderful people that are signed up to the Anthony Nolan register.
“But too many people, like Daniel, are told there is no matching donor for them.
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“Signing up to the register is quick and simple, and we urge anyone who is in good general health, especially young men aged 16-30, to come forward and potentially save the life of someone like Daniel.”
Anyone aged 16-30 can sign up online through the
DONATING STEM CELLS & SIGNING THE REGISTER
When you join a stem cell registry you are on standby to be matched and potentially save a life – although many people are never called up.
- Blood stem cells can be collected in one of two ways.
- The first, used in around 90% of cases, is a similar process to giving blood. Blood is taken from one arm, run through a machine which collects the stem cells, then returned to the body through the other arm. The body typically replenishes the stem cells within 2-4 weeks.
- The second involves taking blood stem cells from bone marrow at the back of the hip bone. It is a small operation carried out under general anaesthetic, and most donors are back to normal activities with a week.
- You can register as a donor by using a simple tissue swab kit, sent to you in the post. You take swabs from the inside of your cheek.
- For more information visit or www.anthonynolan.org.