Life-saving transplant for Sunderland youngster Chloe Gray postponed over coronavirus fears

A Sunderland youngster’s life-saving stem cell transplant has been postponed indefinitely because of the risk posed by coronavirus.
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Chloe Gray, from Silksworth, was born with a rare blood disorder called Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA) – a condition which means her body doesn’t produce red blood cells.

The nine-year-old has to receive regular blood transfusions to stay alive and has been in urgent need of a blood stem cell donation.

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Chloe Gray with mum Francesca Bowser.Chloe Gray with mum Francesca Bowser.
Chloe Gray with mum Francesca Bowser.

And in August her parents Francesca and Craig Bowser’s prayers were answered after medics discovered a 9/10 match for the courageous youngster.

Chloe was due to undergo the transplant at the end of April at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, but now the operation has been postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) were first reported in Hubei Province, China, in December last year.

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Typical symptoms include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Chloe Gray with mum Francesca Bowser.Chloe Gray with mum Francesca Bowser.
Chloe Gray with mum Francesca Bowser.

The procedure would have meant Chloe would have to spend six to eight weeks in hospital while she undergoes chemotherapy before she is given stem cells that will build her immune system back up.

After the transplant she would need to spend time in isolation at home to protect her immune system.

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But now her family has been given the news that the transplant poses to great a risk to Chloe during this time.

The news comes just days after Chloe celebrated her upcoming procedure at a ‘transplant party’ with loved ones.

Mum Francesca, 29, said: “Chloe’s transplant won’t be going ahead next month. The risk is too high with coronavirus and it isn’t safe.

“We don’t know when it will be as have to wait for everything to calm down.

“We just had to hope blood stocks don’t run low during the pandemic and keep going with transfusions.”