Search for marrow match for Clifton boy intensifies
Robbie Eddles will move to Pretoria to undergo a Haploid transplant.
ROBBIE Eddles, a Clifton College learner who has been diagnosed with leukaemia for the third time, is thrilled to be back in Durban after spending three months at a hospital in Israel.
Robbie travelled to Israel for treatment called CAR-T Therapy, in March, where at Mount Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv, the T-cells, which are sick and leukaemic, were removed from his body and genetically engineered to become non-leukaemic fighter cells.
They were returned to his body on 13 April.
Robbie’s aunt, Kerry Moller, who has hosted bone marrow donor drives throughout the country to find him a donor match, said the CAR-T therapy was a great success and has bought him much-needed time.
“He is looking well and attended a school rugby and hockey match recently. He loved every minute of being back with his Clifton family, and even led the war cry! It was so special. Sadly though, he has a difficult journey ahead of him and has not been able to return to school as he is still desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant,” she said.
ALSO READ: Clifton learner encourages others to join SA bone marrow registry
Kerry said they had not yet found a perfect match for him and at this stage a team in Pretoria which specialises in Haploid (half or less than half of a match) are looking for options for him and doing numerous tests to try and find the best possible match as he has to have a transplant, regardless.
“Col (Robbie’s mum) and Robbie are getting ready to move up to Pretoria where they will be for the next few months as Robbie will undergo radiation before the Haploid transplant. Statistically this is a much riskier procedure but it is the only option. But we know that Robs will approach it with his usually quiet strength and courage as he endures the next few weeks, many of which he will have to spend in isolation,” she said.
She urged the community to become a #Robbieswarrior and contact the South African Bone Marrow Registry to sign up as a donor. Visit: www.sabmr.co.za.
PHOTO: Meaker Photography
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