A 10-year-old boy showed great love for his family when he travelled 400 kilometres to give blood and become a donor to help his sick mother.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Boy travels to become a donor to sick mum
- What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia?
10-year-old boy wants to be a bone marrow donor to save his sick mother
A video from a brave 10-year-old boy named Cao Xuajyi went viral as he was drawn 30 vials of blood for his sick mother.
The video attracted over 200,000 likes online because many people were amazed by the courage he showed on the video. The boy’s eyes are steady and firm as a medical professional drew blood from his arm.
The boy’s father, Cao Song, said that Cao Xuanyi used to be scared from pain. However, since his mother’s life is at stake, he took courage and endured the pain.
“He used to be particularly scared of pain, but this time, knowing it was to save his mother, he didn’t say a word,” the father said.
Cao Song also said that his son travelled more than 400 kilometres for a medical check-up. After finding out that his initial blood sample was matched to his mum’s, the boy immediately went to Suzhou. He went there with his grandfather.
The mother’s condition relapsed
The boy’s mum was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in July 2020 which caused Cao Song and his wife to relocate to Suzhou for treatment. They decided to rent an apartment near the hospital to be easier for the boy’s mother to get the medication and treatment she needed.
However, they did not expect to live in that same apartment for the next three years of their life as they fight the disease.
“We’ve only gone home to see the children six or seven times in almost three years,” the father said.
The father was relieved when he found out that the chemotherapy works well in improving his wife’s condition. However, in December last year, they learned through a medical examination that her condition had relapsed through a medical examination.
According to the doctor, the best hope for the mother’s condition is a transplant. A bone marrow transplant is the only alternative way to save the mother. Meanwhile, the safest option is to find a successful match from within the family.
The bone marrow type of the mother mismatched to her brother. The father proposed to the doctor to examine his older son Xuanyi’s bone marrow. He learned that many previous similar surgeries had been successful.
“If there was another option, I would not ask my child to do this,” the father said. “It’s heartbreaking for me because my child is so young and skinny, even though the doctor assured me that it wouldn’t impact his health.”
Image source: iStock
“I want to save my mum.”
Since Xuanyi and his mum’s bone marrow is a match, he is currently staying at their home, awaiting to be called to Suzhou for the surgery anytime soon.
“Because my mother gave birth to me, I owe it to her,” Xuanyi said. “I want my mum to accompany me home so that I can be happy every day.”
Cao Meixia, the boy’s mother, has completed her 9th round of chemotherapy. On the other hand, transplant surgery is yet to be scheduled in eight to nine days. They are just waiting for the doctor to finish reviewing the treatment’s effectiveness.
A lot of people were moved by their story. A netizen commented on the boy’s viral video,
“Mum gave you a life, and you gave a life back to her.”
What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia?
According to WebMD, an Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer. It starts in your bone marrow, the soft inner parts of bones. It usually begins in cells that turn into white blood cells, but it can also start in other blood-forming cells.
In acute myeloid leukemia, bone marrow cells do not grow the way they are supposed to. These immature cells, called blasts, build up in a person’s body.
There are other names acute myeloid leukemia is known for; it includes the following:
- Acute myelocytic leukemia
- Acute myelogenous leukemia
- Acute granulocytic leukemia
- Acute non-lymphocytic leukemia
Symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia often begins with flu-like symptoms; it includes the following:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss or loss of appetite
- Headaches
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Tiny red spots on your skin (petechiae)
- Swollen gums
- Swollen liver or spleen
- More infections than usual
Acute myeloid leukemia treatment
Several different treatments work on AML:
- Chemotherapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Radiation
- Targeted therapy
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