Brother's Stem Cells Provide a Life-saving Cure for Eli's Sickle Cell Disease
Eli’s birth in 2010 was a big day for his parents, who had long struggled with infertility. But their happiness was short-lived as immediately after his birth, Eli was diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD). This genetic disorder causes red blood cells to become rigid and crescent-shaped, leading to severe pain, constant fatigue, and frequent hospitalisations.
Sickle cell disease primarily affects people in sub-Saharan Africa and people of African descent. Consequently, it is a significant health issue in the United States, with around 1 in 365 African American babies being born with the condition. Eli’s severe illness was accompanied by frequent and painful episodes which forced him to be admitted to hospital many times, affecting his family deeply.
In his case, a possible cure could be found through a stem cell transplant from his sibling. His parents were lucky enough to expect his baby brother, Gus, in 2020 and save his cord blood. Gus was a match, making him an ideal donor to his brother. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak pushed Eli’s transplant back to May 2021.
Despite the challenges, the combined stem cell transplant from Gus’s cord blood and bone marrow was successful. Within a year after the stem cell transplant, Eli’s blood counts normalised, and he has experienced no pain crises or hospitalisations since the transplant.
“Since the procedure, he’s been flying with amazing colors. The doctors couldn’t be more happy that everything has gone so well. And we couldn’t be happier either!” – Eli’s mom.