DESPERATE DONOR APPEAL FOR SICK BABY
AFAMILY has issued an urgent plea for bone marrow donors to come forward in the hope of finding a match for a severely unwell baby boy.
Little Reign Miller-Hardy, who is just 10 months old, was diagnosed with a genetic disease known as haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) earlier this month.
The life-threatening condition causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs including the liver, brain and bone marrow.
After a spell at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Reign has now been transferred to a hospital in Newcastle where he is receiving specialist care.
However, his heartbroken family say he will not survive without an urgent bone marrow transplant. Despite scouring the global database, no match has been found for him.
Speaking on behalf of the family,
Reign’s great auntie Lisa Evans, 32, said: “It’s a really hard illness to diagnose as it’s so very rare.
“He had a one-in-a-million chance of getting this disease.
“Reign had a temperature and was just really miserable for a few days, so the doctors thought it was either a virus or an ear infection.
“He didn’t improve so they tested him for Covid, but that came back negative. This all happened in the space of four to five days.”
After being admitted to UHW, Lisa said Reign’s condition deteriorated very quickly and he was taken for a lumbar puncture and scans where his diagnosis was confirmed.
He then started a round of intense chemotherapy and was put in an induced coma to let his body rest.
The decision was then made to transfer him to Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.
“The treatment isn’t working as fast as they would like it to, so he needs a very urgent bone marrow transplant,” added Lisa.
“Looking back he did have a few coughs and colds, which is a sign new that his immune system was not working properly.
“But three weeks ago you would never have thought he’d be in this situation.”
Reign’s parents, Scott Hardy, 28, and Ashleigh Miller, 32, from Barry, have had to take it in turns to be by their son’s bedside as only one of them is allowed on the ward at one time due to Covid.
Lisa, who has joined them in Newcastle, added: “They are under a lot of pressure at the moment. They are deeply upset and desperately hoping for a match.”
Lisa concluded: “We are on borrowed time. He won’t survive without the bone marrow transplant.”
■ People aged 17-30 can join through giving blood with the Welsh Blood Service, or request a swab kit from Anthony Nolan or DKMS. For more details please go to www.welsh-blood.org.uk or www.anthonynolan.org