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Stem Cell Match Has Been Found For Little Boy Battling Cancer After 10,000 People Come Forward

Stem Cell Match Has Been Found For Little Boy Battling Cancer After 10,000 People Come Forward

A record-breaking number of people registered to see if they were a match

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A stem cell match has been found for a five-year-old battling a rare cancer after a whopping 10,000 donors came forward to check if they were a match.

Oscar Saxelby-Lee, from St John's in Worcester, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) in December last year.

His devastated parents launched a huge appeal to try and find a stem cell match for their little boy. More than 10,000 people came forward after being touched by Oscar's story and now a match has been found, dramatically boosting his chances of survival.

SWNS

Sharing the happy news on Facebook, Oscar's mum Olivia wrote that three matches have been found.

She wrote: "We have the best news to share! Oscar has a match!!!!

"Absolutely thrilled to announce Oscar has finally got a stem cell match, not just one but three and will be undergoing transplant very soon!!

"What an emotional rollercoaster it's literally been a journey of heartache and dread continuously, but..WOW!!! What a feeling of relief and positivity to help Oscar kick cancer's butt!!

"It's been so so traumatic, but we are over the moon with being given a chance to tackle the next step in treatment.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts to all of you out there who have registered, supported and continued to spread the word for our beautiful boy and those in need of wonderous bone marrow cells.

"We could never have done this without you all!!"

A record-breaking 4,855 people queued for hours in the pouring rain after the headteacher of Oscar's school, Sarah Keating, held an open day at Pitmaston Primary School in Worcester.

DKMS, the charity that tests swabs, said it's the highest number of people to take part in a registration event, smashing the old record of 2,200.

In total, a number of events saw more than 10,000 volunteer to get tested.

Oscar's folks had even more good news last week, too, when they were told by medics that chemotherapy was reducing the cancer cells.

The five-year-old, nicknamed Bear by his parents, is currently undergoing treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Thousands queued up to see if they were a match.
SWNS

His mum, who lives with partner and Oscar's dad Jamie Lee, 26, added: "I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am.

"I don't think any news has ever made us so happy in our entire lives.

"We know this is the beginning of yet another tough journey but we will beat this together and get him home where he belongs, living the life he absolutely deserves.

"Bear we are all behind you my darling."

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: uk news, Health