Fletch’s gift of life for sick Kate
For her 10th birthday this week, Kate Diprose hopes to be well enough to leave hospital and get her ears pierced – but regardless of all the presents she unwraps on her big day, by far her biggest gift will be from her big brother.
The youngster has been battling leukaemia for seven years but when she became ill earlier this year, it was 12-year-old Fletch who came to the rescue by becoming her bone marrow donor.
In fact, after the Matamata dairy farming family-of-five were all tested to see if any were matches to help Kate, both Fletch and their 8-yearold sister, Jessie, spent a lot of time fighting over who it would be.
‘‘We were both pretty keen to be the donor to match,’’ Fletch said.
Mum Jackie said the chance to help Kate had led to a lot of ‘‘smack talk’’ between the siblings.
‘‘It was actually quite funny, sitting there thinking, no one else is having this conversation right now.’’
When Kate rang Fletch to tell him he could donate, his face split into a massive beam. A devastated Jessie started crying.
After watching Kate suffer for years after she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia as a 3-year-old, and having seen her relapse in January following a couple of months in the clear last year, both were prepared to do whatever it took.
‘‘I said to Fletch, how are you feeling about it at one point,’’ Jackie said. ‘‘And he said, ‘Mum it’s the least I can do, Kate is brave all the time’.’’
Kate needed the transplant because her own bone marrow had been killed off by the chemotherapy used to treat the blood cancer that – according to Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ – is diagnosed in six Kiwis every day. Left untreated, those with leukaemia can die within months and, with a 25 per cent chance of a match, siblings are the best bet for finding a suitable bone marrow donor.
‘‘Every day she has no bone marrow, she’s completely susceptible to picking up any bug,’’ Jackie said.
Jackie said Fletch had bounced back quickly after the operation to remove 800ml of his bone marrow and Kate’s blood count was looking good thanks to the transplant. She said the family even joke that Kate might start acting more like Fletch – now she’s full of his bone marrow.
Along with the family and friends rallying for them, the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has made a tumultuous time bearable.
Every year RMHC provide support and accommodation for 3700 families with a child in hospital. The charity’s 2018 appeal starts this week, running from May 7 to May 13.
It meant the family could stay close to Kate as much as possible during her lengthy stints in hospital.
‘‘If that wasn’t there, we probably would have had to sell everything and relocate,’’ Jackie said.
‘‘They have all had to grow up a lot quicker than your average child. They’ve beard some pretty grim circumstances. Kate has an old head on her shoulders.’’
Mum it’s the least I can do, Kate is brave all the time. Fletch Diprose