Continued">Continued">Continued">Zeyad donated bone marrow to save his brother’s life – Children Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357

Zeyad donated bone marrow to save his brother’s life

    The mother: my two kids are in good health, thanks to God and to 57357 Whoever can contribute to expanding the bone marrow transplantation unit should not hesitate The night when bone marrow was taken from my12 year old  son Zeyad, to be given to his 14 year old brother Helmi, was one of the … Continued

The mother: my two kids are in good health, thanks to God and to 57357

Whoever can contribute to expanding the bone marrow transplantation unit should not hesitate

The night when bone marrow was taken from my12 year old  son Zeyad, to be given to his 14 year old brother Helmi, was one of the hardest nights in my life. Both are my children, but Helmi is in a serious condition, and his lifeline is bone marrow transplantation. Unfortunately I couldn’t be the donor because I wasn’t compatible. Only his younger brother Zeyad was compatible. Despite his young age, he rose up to the challenge and said” I love my brother and want to be the donor”. His father was hesitant and afraid, and I was terrified, but had faith in God and trust in 57357’s doctors. I had a feeling that God will protect my two sons, which encouraged me to take the decision. I said to their father that the Hospital is committed to its mission and will see that the transplantation  process is carried out  safely and efficiently.

After the success of the procedure, I prayed to God to thank him, and expressed gratitude to the medical team who supported us and treated Helmi and Zeyad as their own children.

The mother shared with us the story of her son’s journey with illness; we are from Elmenoufeya. My husband is a  wage laborer , and we have 3 children. About a year ago, Helmi complained from severe headache. I took him to many hospitals, and every time he takes medication, he feels well for a couple of weeks, but pain returns back . Doctors in Quesna hospital requested x-rays and tests after which they told me that he had leukemia. I didn’t know what to do and how to afford his treatment. God put in my way a mother whose son is receiving treatment in Hospital 57357, and she advised me to go there. We went to the Hospital, and he was put on a waiting list. Ten days later, they accepted him, and started tests immediately. They decided to give him chemotherapy for a year, then to perform bone marrow transplantation, as the possibility of recurrence was high.

The problem was that the bone marrow transplantation’s waiting list was long, and the beds are limited. Thanks be to God, the bone marrow transplantation appointment was specified. The transplantation was successfully carried out, Helmi got better, and Zeyad is in  good health too. Thanks be to God and to the efficiency of 57357’s doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

Helmi has acute leukemia, and bone marrow transplantation is a main part of the treatment protocol of critical cases, as it improves survival rate, revealed Dr. Mahmoud Hammad. The problem that faces us is that the number of beds in the unit is limited, and the bone marrow transplantation is a costly process that requires special care of the patient. In 57357, the Hospital bears the complete cost. As such, the Hospital pursues to expand the unit and increase the number of beds from 9 to 27, to offer survival chance to critical cases.

Helmi was smiling while following our conversation. He tells me that the pain has disappeared, and he is looking forward to going home to play with his brother. He shared with us that, he wants to become an electricity technician for wedding parties, as he likes colored lights, and festival songs

“My son’s treatment journey is still ongoing, and I am confident that he will survive, God willing”, shared the mother. I hope that the Hospital can expand the bone marrow transplantation unit to reduce the number of patients on the waiting  list and save a larger number of children. I wish that whoever can donate would not hesitate, for the sake of our children, added Helmi’s mother.

Contribute to expanding the bone marrow transplantation unit to enable us save a larger number of high risk cases.

Every additional bed in the bone marrow transplantation unit means a chance at life for a sick child.