Leukemia Patient Receives Cord Blood Transplant From Sister
Eight-year-old boy Jia Jia from Shanghai has received a cord blood transplant of his sister's stem cells to aid in the treatment of his leukemia. His sister, who presented a perfect match for Jia Jia was born just one year after he was diagnosed with the disease - and at the tender age of three-years old, has helped to save his life.
Jia Jia was just five-years-old when he was diagnosed with the disease. After experiencing such symptoms as shortness of breath, nose bleeds and joint pain, the young boy was tested for leukemia. Soon, he was diagnosed.
He underwent chemotherapy, and doctors believed that the disease was under control. He was even cleared to attend school with other children his age. During this time, the family had given birth to baby girl, whose cord blood they banked in case they would ever need it. Their hopes were high about Jia Jia's future, but with a history of leukemia, they felt it was best to take this precaution.
It seems they made the right decision, as Jia Jia experienced a relapse in 2009. His organs and immune system had experienced so much damage from chemotherapy, so another round would have had detrimental effects. Instead, his doctors suggested a cord blood transplant.
His sister's cord blood sample was promptly retrieved, and Jia Jia received the transplant on August 24th, 2011. Currently it is too soon to tell how much his health has improved, but his family hopes for the best.