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Second transplant gives boy, 4, new lease of life

Family photo Holly and son Gunner smile at the camera. The picture shows their head and shoulders and Holly wears a blue jumper and Gunner has a green top. Family photo
Holly and Gunner have been spending time outside after his long treatment

A family said they feel "incredibly lucky" after a second donor was found for a four-year-old boy needing a stem cell transplant.

Gunner was born with a rare genetic disorder which prevents his body from breaking down sugar. He had his first stem cell transplant following a worldwide search for a donor in 2021 but eventually the treatment stopped working.

The family, from Shropshire, were worried another donor might not be found but cells from an unbilical cord blood donation from 15 years ago were used.

Gunner is now doing well and enjoying his summer. The family are supporting an ongoing NHS appeal for more people to register as stem cell donors, including umbilical cord blood donation.

Family photo Gunner walking on climbing equipment in the park. He wears a green t-shirt and blue trousers and is smiling. There are parked cars behind him. Family photo
Gunner has enjoyed playing outside in the park with his older sister and a holiday with his family after having to be inside for six months

At 17 months old Gunner was diagnosed with metabolic disorder Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) which can cause a range of health problems and reduce life expectancy.

The search for a stem cell donor in 2021 found a match in Germany, just before Gunner's second birthday.

But Holly, an administration assistant in audiology, said it "stopped working and producing the enzyme he needs for us to keep him for as long as possible".

"That was so hard to find a donor at that time during lockdown and we never imagined we'd be in this situation again," she said.

She said she had feared one could not be found but NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said cells which had been "generously donated" just before Christmas 2008 were provided from its cord blood bank in Bristol.

Gunner had to isolate and stay inside following the treatment in January but recently was able to play outside for the first time in six months and has been enjoying going to the park with his older sister and feeding the ducks.

NHSBT NHSBT staff packing the frozen cord blood cells for transport to Gunner. The two women workers wear white laboratory coats and blue gloves and are putting boxes into the special storage container. NHSBT
NHSBT staff in Bristol packed the frozen cord blood cells for transport to Gunner in December 2023

The family have been able to enjoy a holiday in Wales and are looking forward to Gunner starting school in September and his fifth birthday the following month.

"We're incredibly lucky to have done it twice and for him to now be so well," Holly added.

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