Are you a match for Robbie?

A RISING star in his school and community, Robbie Eddles loves spending time with his peers and pet Labrador Izzy as well as swimming, reading and honing his skills in PlayStation and Lego building.

However, he now has to put that on hold as he undergoes the initial stages of chemotherapy treatment at the newly established Capital Haematology Hospital in West Ridge, Durban.

In May 2008, Robbie, who was only six years old at the time, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after medical tests that ensued from a lump in his groin.

Robbie’s arduous journey of treatment began and after months of intensive chemotherapy, much to the relief of his family and friends, Robbie went into remission. But in January 2014, the family were dealt a blow following a routine MRI scan that confirmed that Robbie had relapsed and the leukaemia had returned.

Although Robbie is responding well to treatment and is currently in remission, his doctor has confirmed that he will need to undergo a life-saving bone marrow stem cell transplant. Neither of Robbie’s older sisters has positively matched as a potential donor for him and the family will now have to turn to the South African Bone Marrow Registry to find an unrelated match. Statistically, the chances of a patient finding a match is 1:100 000 within their own ethnic group as the “markers” that are tested when searching for a match are genetically inherited.

An increased number of people on the Registry dramatically increases the chances of a patient finding a bone marrow stem cell match and so the family is urgently appealing to the public to come forward and join the Registry, not only to give hope to Robbie but to all patients diagnosed with leukaemia and other life-threating blood disorders. It only takes two test tubes of blood to join the Registry and if you are ever found to be a match, the process of donating bone marrow stem cells is a minor, non-surgical procedure much like donating blood or platelets.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 45, weigh over 50kgs with a BMI of <35 and have no history of sexually transmitted diseases, consider becoming a bone marrow stem cell donor to help young patients like Robbie Eddles and others who are suffering from a life-threatening blood disorder.

Contact The Sunflower Fund toll free 0800 12 10 82, weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za