#MatchforMaison
Are you of Albanian and Greek descent? You could be a match for 2-year-old Maison, who is in urgent need of a stem cell donor.
Mum of one, Stella, 34 from Reading is urging anyone eligible to join the stem cell register after her son Maison was diagnosed with a lifechanging blood disorder aged one. Maison, now aged two, has spent most of his life being treated for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London. You can find out more about how stem cell donation works here – or become part of the Anthony Nolan or DKMS register below.
Stella said, “He didn’t have many symptoms, we went to the hospital because he had an allergic reaction to something he ate. I thought he might have eczema because there were spots all over his body, and that’s when the doctors mentioned that it could be a blood infection.”
“It was difficult for Maison to go through all those tests – they are painful for him, and he doesn’t understand why. As soon as he knows he’s going to hospital he freaks out, sometimes he cries so much he passes out – it’s incredibly stressful for all of us.”
After lots of tests Maison was initially diagnosed with a low platelet count and eventually with WAS, which was a huge shock to the family as they had never heard of the disorder.
Currently Maison can’t lead the life of a normal toddler. His condition means he bleeds a lot, easily bruises, has a low immune system, severe allergies, and can’t play with other children.
“This is one of those things you think only happens to people on TV” Stella said. Now, the family have been told that Maison needs a stem cell transplant to survive.
As Maison is an only child, the family do not have the option of a matching sibling donor. Anthony Nolan has searched the global registries, but sadly a match for Maison has not yet been found
"This is one of those things you think only happens to people on TV” Mum issues urgent stem cell plea following toddler’s rare blood disorder diagnosis.
Maison’s mum Stella has given up her job as a hairdresser to care for Maison and his dad Elsi, 32, works in construction. The family, who hail from Greece and Albania, are working with stem cell transplant charity Anthony Nolan on a campaign entitled #MatchforMaison.
Maison’s family are urging all healthy 16–30-year-olds, especially those of Albanian and Greek descent, to join the stem cell register and become potential lifesavers, and if you are between the age of 30-55 you can join the DKMS stem cell register.
“We’re not looking too far in the future right now just taking it day by day. All we can do is be there for Maison for every day until we get to the other end. But even then, it will take some time for us to put our lives back together again.
