Experiences inspire Liam’s career with NHS
AT JUST 13 years old, Liam Dando became the first boy in the UK to undergo a bone marrow transplant – a breakthrough procedure which has since saved countless lives.
He needed to spend months in an isolation “bubble” in hospital, both before and after the treatment, to ensure he did not contract any lifethreatening infections.
So to pay thanks to the NHS staff who supported him throughout his years of ill-health, the Cardiff resident has decided to follow in their footsteps and become a nurse.
Liam, who now works at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, says he would not be here today without the bone marrow which was donated anonymously by a German man.
“To express my gratitude to my donor would be fantastic. Maybe one day that will happen,” he said.
Liam, now 26, said was about three when he began to suffer major skin problems on his face including eczema, abscesses and blisters.
Then at the age of five, he was diagnosed with hyper IGE syndrome STAT 3, a rare immunodeficiency disease which led to Liam needing numerous treatments and lengthy stays in hospital.
“I remember as a kid wearing gloves a lot so I wouldn’t scratch my skin. It was so itchy,” said the Ely resident.
“Then when I got older I started to get chest infections more frequently which led to scarring on my lungs which will never go away.
“Hospital became my life. To me it was my second home – and the cheeky boy that I was, I treated it like that.
“I would be staying up late playing games or watching videos. I don’t regret any part of it because without it I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
When Liam’s health issues became more serious, he was admitted for a bone marrow transplant at the age of 13.
The transplant, which was carried out in Newcastle, was experimental at the time and had just a 50% chance of success.
“Before the transplant you go through a vigorous course of chemotherapy to destroy the immune system,” he said.
“It was horrible and I would never wish that on anyone. This is when I was at my lowest but I managed to get through it. I was in isolation for a month before and two months afterwards, but I just got on with it.
“One or two people could come and see me in isolation, and my parents were up in Newcastle with me and were very supportive.”
On April 6, 2018, Liam celebrated 13 years posttransplant and has not been admitted for a chest infection since.
“I have now been out of hospital for the same amount of time that I spent inside so it was a great milestone for me!”
Far from putting him off, his regular stays in hospital firmly encouraged him to take up a career in nursing.
“I think my overall experience in hospital has played a big part in my chosen career,” he added.
“The people who looked after me have a massive part to play. My favourite nurse (the late Jenny King) would wake me up at 8am and, being a 12-year-old boy, you can imagine that didn’t go down well. But she was great and they don’t make them like her any more.”
After training at Swansea University, Liam began working on the Owl Ward in the children’s hospital alongside some of the staff who treated him as a child.
He added: “I think having my own health experiences has made me a better person, and certainly a better nurse.
“I’ve been able to relate to a lot of the children that I have looked after. I have no regrets and I can’t really think how my life would have been without practically living on West 1 for all those years.”