The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

The family of toddler Adeline have launched a search for a donor to help their little girl.

Family urgently seeking a match to save the life of their little girl

- NEIL HENDERSON nhenderson@thecourier.co.uk

The family of a toddler with a rare blood disorder has launched a search to find a matching donor to save the little girl’s life.

Earlier this year brave two-year-old Adeline Davidson was found to have a condition so rare that doctors cannot even give it a diagnosis.

Despite the pain and discomfort, the youngster has to endure a weekly blood transfusio­n just to keep her alive.

However, the treatments are not a cure and the family is desperatel­y trying to find that perfect match to be a stem cell donor.

The youngster’s great aunt, Linda Thomson, who lives in Leslie, Fife, said finding a match was like looking for a needle in a haystack but they lived in hope of finding the right donor.

“Fife might just have the right person, we just need to find them,” she said.

“However, if we can’t find a perfect match we’ll have to consider a lesser one but that opens up the possibilit­y of illness that could be disastrous for Adeline.”

Answering the Ross-shire family’s plea this week, dozens of people in Fife – including mums, builders, pensioners and even six local police officers – stepped up to take the test to see if they could be little Adeline’s saviour.

“All we want is to find a match for Adeline,” said her mum, Steph Davies.

“It’s just been a huge waiting game since we found out she was poorly to wait for this 10 out of 10 match.

“I hope one day soon we can find one and I can thank them.

“It just means everything – it’s Adeline’s life.”

Doctors have told the family the toddler’s condition is so rare that there are statistica­lly only around three people in the UK and a handful around the world that would present a perfect match.

As part of the campaign, a coffee morning and drop-in event was organised by Catherine Sala-Murray who runs Kats Mission, a charity fundraisin­g organisati­on based in Kinglassie.

She is hoping to recruit 200 local people to take the test.

“Hearing about the little girl’s plight just struck a chord – I knew we had to do something to help,” Catherine said.

“We got hold of 200 swab kits and have been appealing for the public to come forward.

“The response has been great so far but we can still do more.

“Fingers crossed we can find that one person that will make the difference.”

Supporters are urging healthy Fifers between the age of 17–55 to visit Kats Mission, 22 High Street, Kinglassie, where they can take the simple test.

Thankfully, little Adeline Davidson is not old enough to understand how unwell she is and the precarious­ness of her situation. The blood disorder she suffers from is so rare that medics have been unable to diagnose it properly.

But what doctors do know is the smiling toddler from Ross-shire desperatel­y needs a stem cell donor if she is to have a chance at a normal life.

Finding a donor in any circumstan­ces is an enormous challenge, but Adeline’s needs are very specific.

Her family know they are searching for a needle in a haystack in their attempts to locate a perfect stem cell match. Statistica­lly, it is estimated that just three people in the UK might be that person.

That hunt is firmly on, with Adeline’s plight now striking a chord in other parts of the country from her hometown.

In Fife, where her great-aunt Linda hails from, the community is gathering round to help.

It is hoped that 200 local people will agree to a swab test to see if they can answer the prayers of Adeline’s family.

It is a heart-wrenching situation and one that will hopefully come to a happy conclusion.

But what Adeline’s case does highlight is the desperate need for individual­s to put themselves forward as blood and potential organ donors.

We all have it in us to save a life. Adeline’s plight is a reminder we should take that responsibi­lity seriously.

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 ??  ?? The family of Adeline Davidson, 2, who has a very rare blood disorder, have appealed for people to come forward to be tested to see if they are a perfect match.
The family of Adeline Davidson, 2, who has a very rare blood disorder, have appealed for people to come forward to be tested to see if they are a perfect match.

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