Mum’s donor plea after op hopes for Ava, 3, sunk again
A MOTHER has begged Scots to get tested as stem cell donors after her toddler daughter lost out on a life-saving transplant for the second time in four months.
Three-year-old Ava Stark was 24 hours from going to hospital in Glasgow when her family was told that the donor had to pull out for medical reasons.
Now, her mother Marie, 33, from Lochgelly, Fife, is urging people to have a simple test to find out if they can help.
‘A stem cell transplant gives Ava hope,’ she said. ‘It gives her another chance.’
She added: I’m literally begging everybody to get tested. Even if it doesn’t save Ava’s life, it could save somebody else’s little boy or girl.’
Her daughter has a rare condition, inherited bone marrow failure.
Treatment currently consists of a weekly blood platelet transplant and a blood transfusion every three weeks.
However, medics are unable to say how long this will keep Ava alive. She needs a stem cell transplant – and the donor has to be a perfect match.
After surgery, scheduled for July, was called off a second donor was found but, with Ava due in to hospital on Tuesday, doctors revealed the latest setback. Miss Stark said: ‘It was so devastating.’ Now Ava is in isolation at home while the search for another donor continues.
Though strict anti-infection precautions mean that she cannot even kiss her family, her mother said that the brave youngster remains upbeat.
Miss Stark said: ‘She doesn’t have a care in the world. She’s just happy
‘She saw us crying yesterday and she said to me, “Mum, don’t cry” and she asked if she could give us a kiss because we haven’t been able to do that.’
Any relatively healthy person aged 1630 can go for the painless test through the Anthony Nolan trust. Those aged 17-55 can also register with Delete Blood Cancer.