Big day for young Chloe
Little fighter Chloe Gray is today about to hear what the next stage in her treatment will be as the search for a stem-cell donor to save her life continues.
Seven-year-old Chloe has Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), a bone marrow failure, which means at present she has to undergo a O negative blood transfusion every four weeks.
However, her body is developing antibodies against the donations, causing a build-up of iron in her system and making her feel ill.
It recent months the Plains Farm Primary schoolgirl’s family have been holding public events at the Bridges in Sunderland as part of a campaign to recruit people to the register of the DKMS charity in the hope that a donor can be found for Chloe and others battling the illness.
The family’s work has added thousands of names to its list thanks to Sunderland people willing to offer their support.
But without a match so far, Chloe’s family are today travelling to London to see what other treatment options are available for her in the event that a match isn’t found.
Chloe’s mum Francesca, 27, said: “A lot of people who we’ve stopped seem to know about Chloe’s story, which is brilliant because it shows they are aware of her condition.” The family are today due to meet with Chloe’s specialist at St Mary’s Hospital, in Paddington, to check on her condition.
Francesca added: “If we don’t have a match we will have to do something drastic.”
Francesca, who is married to Craig, 34, and mum to Freddie Bowser, two, Millie Gray, 11, and stepson Tye Bowser, 12, added that things have been difficult for the family in recent months.
“It’s been really hard for us. Chloe is asking ‘when are we going to find a match?’ so it’s very stressful for her too.”
For more details, visit the Chloe’s DBA Fight #aheroforchloe Facebook page or go to https://www.dkms. org.uk/.