MUM’S CHRISTMAS WISH FOR DONOR TO SAVE SON
ADEVASTATED mum says the only thing she wants for Christmas is a bone marrow donor for her six-year- old son.
Marley Nicholls, pictured, described by his friends as a “kind, funny boy who gives great hugs”, has been in and out of hospital ever since he was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in July.
The serious blood disorder is caused by the bone marrow not functioning properly, which stops the body producing enough red and white blood cells and platelets.
When it was discovered that his younger brother George was not a bone marrow match, a huge campaign called Marrow for Marley was launched by his mum Shaney Truman.
Despite it gaining international recognition and receiving the backing of WWE superstar and Hollywood A-lister Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and girl group Little Mix, no suitable donor has been found on the global register.
The schoolboy now requires regular blood and platelet transfusions and will die without a bone marrow transplant.
Shaney, from Newport, said she feared Marley would be in hospital over the Christmas period.
“He’s just like any normal year-old boy,” she said.
“When he needs to go into hospital there are lots of tears. He gets poked and prodded and it usually takes up an entire day.
“He still doesn’t really understand six- how seriously ill he is, but as soon as he goes home to see his family and friends, he’s usually OK after a couple of days.” Schoolboy Marley needed to be admitted to the University Hospital of Wales on Friday last week for his first of many platelet transfusions. While the blood transfusions need to occur once a month, the platelets need to be replenished every five days. “That, unfortunately, means he’ll need more time added.
Shaney said the ultimate Christmas festive gift would be to find her poorly son a bone marrow match.
“It would be pretty special to find a match for him at Christmas. There would be no words to describe how that would make us feel,” Shaney added.
“But this is bigger than Marley. By encouraging people to join the register we are giving hope to other people in need of a donor.
“A lady contacted me recently who said she was a confirmed match for someone else because of our campaign.
“That made me really emotional and helped me realise how worthwhile this all is.”
Marley has been given huge support from his family, his community and his classmates at St Julian’s Pri
mary School in Newport. in hospital,” Shaney To help Marley and find out more, see facebook.com/ marrowformarley
By encouraging people to join the register we are giving hope to other people in need of a donor