A two-year-old toddler has been diagnosed with a rare immunodeficiency disease and needs an Asian stem cell donor to live.
Shahera Khan from Croydon, South West London, has a fault in her immune system whereby she is unable to produce enough white blood cells making her susceptible to infections. Her mother says she is currently taking medication for protection against serious bacterial infections and undergoes immunoglobulin transfusions every week. Amina said,
“At the moment she is doing okay but she’s getting side effects from the medication. We need to find Shahera a donor as soon as possible. We want to raise awareness in the Asian, and particularly Bangladeshi, community so people come forward - not only to help our daughter but for anyone who needs a donor. It’s shocking that there is no match for her and other people from Asian communities.
“With Shahera’s condition the doctors would like to do the transplant as soon as possible. They’ve given us a couple of months to find a donor and suggested spring or summer next year for the transplant.”
The family have been told a stem cell transplant is her best chance of leading a normal life. Doctors will give her new, healthy stem cells via the bloodstream, where they begin to grow and create healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. But Shahera needs a stem cell donor. Nobody in her family is a genetic match, so the family is working with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan to raise awareness of the stem cell donor register. Amina said,
“We don’t want her to miss out on anything. She should be starting nursery this year September, but we don’t know what will happen because of her treatment.
“We’re a happy family unit. My husband and I both work and we slot Shahera’s appointments in around family life. It’s nerve wracking and upsetting, waiting to find a donor. It feels like a long process. It’s not easy, we have our bad days as well as good days, but all we can do is look forward, and do everything we can to find Shahera a donor.”
Currently patients, like Shahera, from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background have a 20% chance of finding the best possible stem cell donor match, compared to 69% for people with white, European heritage. Sarah Rogers, Register Development Manager at Anthony Nolan said,
“Little Shahera wants to go to nursery, learn and make more friends just like other toddlers olds across the UK. For this to happen she needs a stranger to donate their stem cells.
“If you’re aged 16-30 you can join the register online and we’ll send you a cheek swab in the post. If you’re found to be a match for a patient, you could donate your stem cells and give hope to families like Shahera’s. Your support could help us give a patient, their family and their friends a second chance of life.”
Anthony Nolan is the charity that finds matching donors for people with blood cancer – and gives them a second chance of life. People aged 16-30 who are in good general health can find out more, and join the Anthony Nolan register at www.anthonynolan.org/saveourshahera
