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Baby's Cancer Missed as Teething: Urgent Donor Plea
30 Sep
Summary
- Baby Reuben's leukemia signs were initially mistaken for teething.
- He requires a stem cell transplant to prevent cancer recurrence.
- The family urges young people to join the stem cell donor register.
A baby boy named Reuben, aged 10 months, from Norfolk, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) after his initial symptoms were mistaken for teething and tonsillitis. His parents, Mary and Ashley, experienced a life-altering shock when blood tests at the hospital revealed the severity of his condition.
Following chemotherapy, Reuben requires a stem cell transplant to prevent the cancer from returning. His two young sisters are being tested as potential matches, adding to the family's distress.
The family is now working with the charity Anthony Nolan to raise awareness and encourage more people, particularly those aged 16 to 30, to register as stem cell donors. They emphasize that many children face similar situations and that a donor could be life-saving.
Charlotte Cunliffe from Anthony Nolan highlighted that blood cancer is the most common cancer among young people in the UK and stressed the critical need for selfless donors to give hope to families affected by these diseases.
