The mother of a baby boy whose cancer signs were mistaken for teething and tonsillitis has made an urgent plea for stem cell donors.
Reuben, from Norfolk, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at 10 months old.
His mother Mary, a paramedic, said he had been unwell "for a few days" with a temperature, leading her and husband Ashley to think he was teething.
The couple brought Reuben – nicknamed Roo – to their GP, who suspected tonsillitis. However, further tests led to hospital admission, where blood analysis revealed Reuben had AML. The family have remained at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge ever since.
Mary, who chose not to disclose her surname, said: "We never thought it would be anything like leukaemia, it blindsided us. He’s just a baby.
"We knew of leukaemia, but it didn’t seem possible for it to be happening to us, we thought it was so rare.
"Our world fell apart overnight, and our family has been separated ever since. My daughters are having to stay with their grandparents right now. It still doesn’t feel real."
Following genetic results, the family were told Reuben needs a stem cell transplant to stop the cancer returning after chemotherapy.
Transplants involve giving patients healthy donor stem cells, which develop into new blood cells and platelets. Reuben’s sisters, eight-year-old Lyra and four-year-old Cleo, are also being tested as potential matches.
While awaiting results, the family are partnering with Anthony Nolan to encourage more young people to join the stem cell register.
Mary said: "We feel terrible that his sisters are being tested to see if they’re a match for Roo, they’re so little.
"I am so scared that he might not find a match easily or quickly enough. The waiting and not knowing if Reuben will find a match is awful. We would do anything to increase his chances. We wish we could be stem cell donors for him ourselves.
"Since being on the oncology ward, we have spoken to other families who have had or who need stem cell transplants, there are far more children in similar situations than I ever realised.
"We want to make something positive come from our situation by calling on people to join the register, for our little Roo and for anyone else in need."
Charlotte Cunliffe, director of register development at Anthony Nolan, said: "It’s heartbreaking that little Reuben was diagnosed with AML at just 10 months old.
"Sadly, we know that blood cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst children, teenagers and young adults in the UK.
"At Anthony Nolan we give hope to families affected by blood cancers and disorders, but we can’t do it without the selfless donors that sign up to our register.
"If you are aged 16-30, please sign up to the Anthony Nolan register. You could be the match that someone like baby Reuben needs."
More information is available at AnthonyNolan.org/Register4Roo
