Mum’s plea to find stem cell donor for daughter, 9, with deadly blood disorder

A mum is urgently looking for a stem cell donor for her daughter who was diagnosed with a potentially fatal blood disorder.

Mobeen Hussai took her nine-year-old Amilah to a GP after she experienced repeated bruising earlier this year.

After blood tests showed the youngster had low platelet counts she was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia at Great Ormond Street Hospital in October.

Aplastic anaemia is a rare disorder that occurs when the bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells for the body to work normally, making it harder to fight infection, stop bleeding or carry oxygen.

Amilah’s only hope of a cure is a stem cell transplant but there is currently no match on the stem cell register.

‘When we were told Amilah’s diagnosis, they told us the only cure was a stem cell transplant,’ Mobeen said.

‘It needs to be treated soon and would be better when Amilah is well because she’d make a really good recovery.’

Mobeen, of Horsham in West Sussex, is now working with Anthony Nolan on the Amilah Means Hope campaign to encourage people between the ages of 16 and 30 – particularly those from minority ethnic backgrounds – to sign the stem cell register.

As Amilah has Pakistani heritage, she is more likely to have a unique tissue type and less likely to find a donor on UK registers compared to those from white, northern European backgrounds.

Unfortunately, Amilah’s older brother Naa’il is not a match.

Mobeen added: “When we looked into it, it seemed there’s a lack of donors suitable for patients from ethnic minority communities. 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 will introduce healthy stem cells into the little girl’s bloodstream to help her body grow and produce new blood cells.

It is hoped the procedure will allow Amilah – known as Milly to friends and family – 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. It’s why I’m doing this.

‘Stem cell donation is giving a gift of life; it’s such a precious gift to give anyone.”

There are only about 100 to 150 people diagnosed with aplastic anaemia every year in the UK, according to the charity Anthony Nolan.

It is most most common in people aged between 10 and 20, as well as people over the age of 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.

‘We need more people aged 16-30 in good general health to sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.

‘Amilah’s donor will most likely share her background, which is why we’re particularly calling on people with Pakistani heritage to join the register and give someone like Amilah hope for the future.’

Mobeen explained that Amilah means ‘hope’ in Arabic, which she has embraced for the campaign name.

‘Hope not just for herself but for all those who need a hero right now and for all those who will need one in the future,” she added.

‘Most heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Signing up to the Anthony Nolan register is a chance to change a life and gift someone hope for the future.

‘She means a lot to a lot of people.’

You can find more information on how to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell register here.

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