Arsenal fanatic Mason is seeking a stem cell donor

A FAMILY has launched an urgent appeal for a stem cell donor after their five-year-old son received a shock diagnosis which puts his life at risk.

Mason, who lives in Angel and loves Arsenal, dance, and baking, has a rare blood disorder called congenital neutropenia. This means he doesn’t have the bacteria-fighting white blood cells that prevent him from becoming sick.

Emily Wilson, his mother, told the Tribune: “Whenever he gets any temperature, we have a protocol where he has to be ­taken straight to the children’s ward, be given antibiotics, everything to make sure he doesn’t develop sepsis.”

She added: “It’s been tricky for him. It’s hard seeing what he has to go through. He’s the one that has to live it, we just try and support him as much as we can. He is always happy, unless he is unwell. To look at him, you would never know that he was sick. He’s a very bubbly character, everyone knows him, will talk to him.”

Mason’s dual Caribbean and British heritage means that finding a match has been made ever more complicated. This is because people from UK ethnic minority heritage backgrounds are under-represented on the stem cell donor register, meaning those from such backgrounds often face much longer waits for a match.

Ms Wilson said: “Mason’s chance of finding a perfect match is 30-40 per cent, whereas for most people it would be 70-80 per cent.

Mason with mum Emily

“At the moment, he does have a mismatched donor, but that means he will have to take a lot more medication. We would rather have a 10/10.”

His family have already been tested, but are unfortunately not a match. They are now organising a donor registration event, this Sunday in Newington Green Primary School, to try and find an unrelated donor who may be a perfect match for Mason.

The situation has turned “urgent”, his mum said, as without a transplant there is the potential that he could develop leukemia.

“The risk is very real, and I’ve been told that we have to do it now,” Ms Wilson added.

But even if they do not find a perfect match for Mason, Ms Wilson said they hoped the event would allow other people to sign up to the register, and could potentially lead to somebody else finding a stranger who could save their life.

She said: “There are lots of misconceptions about giving bone marrow. Ninety per cent of the time, it’s just like giving blood. There are 2,000 people on the register who don’t have a donor, that puts them in a desperate situation.

“If Mason’s story can help anyone, even if we get one match, that’s saving someone’s life.”

The event, in partnership with blood cancer charity DKMS, will start at 10am on Sunday at Newington Green school in Matthias Road, N16.

Deborah Hyde, a spokesperson for DKMS, said: “Signing up is a quick and easy process involving some painless mouth swabs. If you are aged 17-55 and in general good health, you’re eligible to join the register with DKMS.”