A little boy is in desperate need of a lifesaving bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with a rare blood disorder.
Olcan Wilkes, seven, may have months to live after developing aplastic anaemia, and no current donor match available for his bone tissue type.
His parents Sam and Genevieve, both 36, of Newent, Glos, are urging everyone to register as a donor and give their boy and others a chance.
On average, 70% of patients with the condition die within a year unless a transplant is undertaken.
Dad Sam said: “We need to find a bone marrow match, that’s the only cure.”
Olcan is having two or three platelet transfusions a week and a blood transfusion every fortnight to keep him alive.
But any small infection could hit his weakened immunity hard. Sam said: “If you aren’t on top of it, it could be catastrophic. The doctors have to treat everything as if it’s worst-case scenario.”
Olcan’s energy levels are often very low, but his parents try their best to get him outside with brother, Hunter, four.
“We take him out to the beach or wherever, places where other people aren’t around,” Sam, a farmer, said. In July, Genevieve was offered a job in Belfast and moved with her sons to Antrim, meaning Sam splits his time.
It was soon after moving they noticed bruising on Olcan’s ankles. Then during a walk, he fell and his knees immediately turned “absolutely black and blue”.
Tests in September showed he had the rare condition. Sam said he and Genevieve are amazed at how quickly he has adapted to hospital trips.
“He’s very intelligent,” Sam said. “We say you need a transplant because your blood cells need a kick up the bum.”
Olcan is having immunosuppressive therapy called anti-thymocyte globulin, which could make him dependent of gruelling transfusions, and prolong his life until a donor is found.
The severity of his condition means the chances of ATG working are fairly low. Sam said: “Within nine months most patients get an infection and die.”
He added as a family they are trying to raise awareness about becoming a donor. “The fact it could just happen to anyone is very upsetting,” he said.
Register to be a bone marrow donor at: www.dkms.org.uk/register-now
