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Bone marrow donor found for girl Bone marrow donor found for girl
(about 8 hours later)
The family of 11-year-old girl who has a rare blood disorder say a bone marrow donor for her has been found. The family of an 11-year-old girl who has a rare blood disorder say a bone marrow donor for her has been found in the US.
Chantelle Rowlands, from Rhyl, suffers from aplastic anaemia - a condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough new cells to replenish blood.Chantelle Rowlands, from Rhyl, suffers from aplastic anaemia - a condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough new cells to replenish blood.
Her mother, Lynda Rowlands, said a donor had been found in the United States and Chantelle would begin treatment soon.
Last week, a drive to find suitable donors for her was held in Rhyl.Last week, a drive to find suitable donors for her was held in Rhyl.
Chantelle was born with the blood disorder and needed transfusions from birth, but her condition had eased until earlier this year. Chantelle's mother, Lynda Rowlands, said she had been told the male donor was a "more or less 100%" match.
She now has regular blood transfusions and takes medication every day. She said her daughter was "over the moon".
She has been unable to go to school at all this term and missed much of last year. Chantelle has aplastic anaemia which means her body no longer produces enough blood cells. It's a condition which leaves her prone to infections and at risk of prolonged bleeding because her blood does not clot in the way it should.
Efforts to find donated bone marrow, which could cure her, had failed before news of the US donor came through this week. She's got a long road to go down but we've got to cross that first hurdle. Lynda Rowlands
Speaking before last week's drive in Rhyl to find a suitable donor, Chantelle said: "I can't play with my friends because if they have a cold I'm not allowed to go near them and I'm not allowed to go to their houses either. She was born with the blood disorder and needed transfusions from birth, but her condition had eased until earlier this year.
"I can't do things that normal children can." She now has regular blood transfusions and takes medication every day. She has been unable to go to school at all this term and missed much of last year.
The 11-year-old is due to begin her treatment at Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital either before Christmas or early in 2007. Efforts to find the donated bone marrow which could cure her had failed before news of the US donor came through this week.
Chantelle is currently back in hospital having more blood transfusions to help her cope with her illness.
Ms Rowlands said: "All we know is that it's male and he's from America, that's it. I've been told it's an excellent match, more or less a 100% match.
Chantelle's mother Lynda helped organise the donation drive
"So that's a good start for Chantelle. She's got a long road to go down but we've got to cross that first hurdle.
"She's over the moon. She's in shock. She's [saying] like its the best Christmas present ever.
"Obviously she's scared. It's hit her now that this is finally happening.
"She still doesn't understand what could have happened if we hadn't found a donor but she's over the moon. We all are."
Chantelle is due to begin her treatment at Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital either before Christmas or early in 2007.