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Dad to Donate Stem Cells for Son's Life-Saving Transplant
19 Jan
Summary
- Father will donate stem cells to save his 16-year-old son.
- Original donor match found, but requires further testing.
- Leukaemia is aggressive, requiring urgent transplant intervention.
Warren Sproson, 46, is set to donate stem cells to his 16-year-old son, Leo, who is battling aggressive acute myeloid leukaemia. A potential donor was identified in December following a media appeal just before Christmas, but further testing is required before the transplant can proceed.
Due to the aggressive nature of Leo's leukaemia and the critical need for timely intervention, doctors have decided that Leo's father will provide the stem cells. This decision was made after the original donor's required additional testing created an unacceptable delay, as waiting four weeks was deemed too risky.
Leo was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at 16, after previously experiencing liver failure shortly after his 12th birthday. His family, including his mother Jenna and aunt Kate Best, are actively raising awareness for blood cancer and the importance of stem cell donation, noting that blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK.
