X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Singapore boy with leukaemia badly in need of HELP!

4 min read
Singapore boy with leukaemia badly in need of HELP!Singapore boy with leukaemia badly in need of HELP!

This Singapore boy with leukaemia is badly in need of help for his treatment. Kindly donate to his Give.Asia page...

He was a normal, 13-year-old school going teenager, and a star basketball player. Nickson Yee, student of Mayflower Secondary School, had even qualified for the Singapore Youth Basketball team, when his world of hopes and dreams came crashing down one fateful day...

Singapore boy with leukaemia

In September 2015, Nickson collapsed at home due to high fever. After several tests, doctors diagnosed that he was suffering from an aggressive form of leukaemia called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). It is the most common type of cancer in children. Some signs are:

  • Fever
  • Easy bruising or bleeding.
  • Petechiae (flat, pinpoint, dark-red spots under the skin caused by bleeding).
  • Bone or joint pain.
  • Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.
  • Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs.
  • Weakness, feeling tired, or looking pale.
  • Loss of appetite.

Mummy Joey tells theAsianparent, "Initially my hubby and I couldn't accept the news, as he was so young. I remember crying every day after hearing the diagnosis..."

Singapore boy with leukaemia badly in need of HELP!

Failed transplant

His parents went about seeking medical attention from doctors who had specialised in childhood leukaemia, at both KK Hospital and NUH. The initial treatment involved chemotherapy. In September 2016, his father Melvin Yee's bone marrow cells were harvested and transplanted in the hope of a full recovery. Unfortunately, 3 months later, in November 2016, Nickson suffered a relapse.

His father’s cells were subsequently harvested to support the treatment of his leukaemia, while also searching for a compatible unrelated donor. Joey adds, "Currently we are relying on his daddy's and aunt's (daddy's sister) cells. The leukaemia has been proven to be too strong for daddy's cells though. So we are now banking on his aunt's cells, since so far there has been no match from an unrelated donor. Chances are only 1 in 20,000..."

Expensive treatment

While looking for a compatible donor, a German drug called Blinatumomab is also required to stabilise Nickson's condition. The drug is super expensive and costs about SGD $220,000; it is infused into the body over a period of one month.

Nickson is insured for the treatments that he is doing in Singapore. However any procedures, blood tests or treatment that his father or aunt undergo in order to harvest their cells etc, are not covered under insurance or Medisave, and have to be paid for in cash.

Singapore boy with leukaemia badly in need of HELP!

Also, importantly, doctors in Singapore have now recommended that Nickson seek treatment at Seattle Hospital in USA, for cell therapy, as 2 patients from Singapore have shown full recovery after completing their treatment there.

Unfortunately, the deposit for the Seattle hospital requires a minimum of SGD $700,000, and Nickson's parents don't have the means to support it. His father is the sole breadwinner of the family, and his mother is now a full-time housewife in order to take care of Nickson and his little brother. Nickson's health insurance in Singapore only covers local treatment, and not overseas treatment. 

Kindly donate through the Give.Asia page

His parents have now set up a Give.Asia page for Nickson, in the hope of raising money to cover his treatment. Do donate to this cause as the possibility of Nickson recovering through cell therapy is high. 

Nickson Yee can no longer attend school, or play his favourite sport, basketball. We hope and pray that this young boy receives proper treatment, and gets well soon. 

Also READ: Cancer signs in children

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and comments with us in the Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from sg.theAsianparent.com

Partner Stories
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Is the Spice in Your Life Taking a Toll on Your Tummy?
Is the Spice in Your Life Taking a Toll on Your Tummy?
Read This Before You Enjoy the Satisfaction of Cracking Your Joints!
Read This Before You Enjoy the Satisfaction of Cracking Your Joints!
Pregnancy 101: 6 Types of Pains and Ways to Manage Them
Pregnancy 101: 6 Types of Pains and Ways to Manage Them

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jaya

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • Singapore boy with leukaemia badly in need of HELP!
Share:
  • Read the story of this brave Singapore boy who fought leukaemia for 5 years!

    Read the story of this brave Singapore boy who fought leukaemia for 5 years!

  • Singapore girl with leukaemia pleads with her mum, "Why not kill me and give birth to me again?"

    Singapore girl with leukaemia pleads with her mum, "Why not kill me and give birth to me again?"

  • 'Can You Resuscitate My Baby?' Begs Woman Who Lost Unborn Baby After Wait at NUH's A&E

    'Can You Resuscitate My Baby?' Begs Woman Who Lost Unborn Baby After Wait at NUH's A&E

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

app info
get app banner
  • Read the story of this brave Singapore boy who fought leukaemia for 5 years!

    Read the story of this brave Singapore boy who fought leukaemia for 5 years!

  • Singapore girl with leukaemia pleads with her mum, "Why not kill me and give birth to me again?"

    Singapore girl with leukaemia pleads with her mum, "Why not kill me and give birth to me again?"

  • 'Can You Resuscitate My Baby?' Begs Woman Who Lost Unborn Baby After Wait at NUH's A&E

    'Can You Resuscitate My Baby?' Begs Woman Who Lost Unborn Baby After Wait at NUH's A&E

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.