The family of a teenage girl who was diagnosed with an extremely rare blood disorder just days after turning 13 have issued an urgent plea for a stem cell donor to save her life.
Millie Fairley, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, has aplastic anaemia, which affects around two people in every million in the UK.
The condition means the bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells for the body to work normally, making it harder to fight infection, stop bleeding or carry oxygen.
Millieâs mother Hayley Fairley, 47, said the diagnosis changed the lives of her family âovernightâ, with her daughter now forced to isolate either at home or in hospital.
âMy little girl should be starting teenage life, but sheâs so vulnerable that she has to isolate at home or in hospital,â Ms Fairley said.
âShe canât see her friends, and itâs been a really lonely time for her. We just want her to get better, so that she can have her life back.â
Medics have told Millieâs family she needs a stem cell transplant to treat her condition.
Her mother said: âIf we canât find a donor, I donât know what weâll do.
âIâm trying to be positive through it all but it was so upsetting when none of the family were a match.
âIâm on edge waiting to see if we can find a matching donor.
âItâs a huge amount of stress for all our family.â
Millie was sent for blood tests by her GP after complaining of headaches, bruising a lot and fainting a few times.
While waiting for the results, her mother noticed a slight rash, so took her to A&E.
After additional blood tests, X-rays and an MRI, Millie was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia and transferred to Kingâs College Hospital in London.
She is now receiving regular treatment at Brighton Royal Childrenâs Hospital.
Ms Fairley said the diagnosis was a âhorrible shockâ, adding: âWeâre completely devastated.
âTo be told that your child has a life-threatening condition is the worst possible news, itâs entirely changed our lives overnight.
âShe can pick up infections so quickly, so weâre constantly in hospital.â
Millieâs family are now working with blood cancer charity DKMS in a bid to encourage more people to register as donors and hopefully find her a match.
Ms Fairley said: âItâs so important that people know that they can register as donors.
âYou have a chance to do something so positive.
âI feel like getting the word out has given me some power to do something good in all this.
âPlease think about signing up, it could change someoneâs life, maybe even my daughterâs.â
DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes said: âFor Millie and patients like her, a total stranger joining the register could give them their lives back.
âThe process is very simple, itâs so easy to give someone a second chance.
âJoining the register only requires a quick health questionnaire and a few simple and painless mouth swabs.
âIt takes 10 minutes of your time, but you could be the match that Millie, or someone else like her, is waiting for.
âIf you are matched to a patient and called up to donate, nine times out of 10 you can donate through your blood, similar to donating blood platelets, and DKMS will be there to support you through the whole journey.â
