THE family of a young girl diagnosed with leukaemia are calling out for Asian donors to help save her life.
Kaiya Patel, 5, has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a rare type of blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells, and “desperately” needs a stem cell donor.
Unable to find a match within her family, a campaign is urging people to register as donors to help her.
However, due to her Asian ethnicity she has just a 20.5 per cent chance of finding a suitable stem cell donor.
This is compared to 69 per cent for people with white or European heritage, according to UK cancer charity Anthony Nolan.
Kaiya’s father Ruchit Patel, 37, said finding out his daughter’s diagnosis was “like a punch to the stomach”.
Kaiya’s symptoms included bruising on her legs, which the family assumed was harmless.
“It's heart-breaking,” Ruchit said. “I had no idea it would be so serious when I took her to A&E – kids have bruises all the time. Kaiya told me they were because she was clumsy like daddy. It was a huge crushing blow to find out she had leukaemia.”
Kaiya was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital and given chemotherapy treatment. However, her family have been informed she needs a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant, to survive.
Ruchit and the family have launched several social media campaigns to raise awareness and to encourage people to join the stem cell donation register,
“The drugs and treatment has taken a significant impact, and [Kaiya] is very tired – but she is coping with it all and continues to look after her little sister,” the father of two said. “We’re so proud of her.”
People wanting to help or find out more can access the Be Kaiya's Donor Facebook page.
Bob Blackman MP speaks during the event