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Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited blood disorders in the UAE. So much so, that the country has one of the highest frequencies of the disease in the world. Sickle cell disease affects the shape of red blood cells, where they are crescent shaped instead of disk shaped. This causes the cells to stick together and block small blood vessels, resulting in pain, infection and organ damage. Sickle cells are also unable to transport oxygen around the body properly, which leads to chronic anaemia, shortness of breath and fatigue.<\/p>\n
Hamad\u2019s family decided to store the cord blood from their newborn son, Abdullah, to improve their eldest son\u2019s quality of life. The transplantation of blood-forming stem cells is the only known cure for sickle cell disease, and is particularly effective in children and young adults.<\/p>\n
Cord blood stem cell transplants between siblings have an even greater success rate; resulting in almost 90% of patients becoming sickle cell disease-free.<\/p>\n
Hamad underwent transplant using his brother\u2019s cord blood stem cells in June 2017 at the United States Cincinnati Children\u2019s Hospital Medical Center, where the stem cell sample had been stored and tested to strict AABB and FDA standards.<\/p>\n
A year on, Hamad is totally cured of sickle cell disease and living a happy, healthy life back in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n