{"id":32829,"date":"2024-07-22T15:49:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T15:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cells4life.com\/?p=32829"},"modified":"2025-10-27T14:11:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T14:11:40","slug":"five-year-old-receives-life-changing-umbilical-cord-blood-transplant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cells4life.com\/us\/2024\/07\/five-year-old-receives-life-changing-umbilical-cord-blood-transplant\/","title":{"rendered":"Five-Year-Old Receives Life Changing Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]\n

Five-year-old Gunner Lewis-Vale from Shropshire, UK, is finally able to step outside and enjoy the summer for the first time in six months, thanks to a successful stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood donated 15 years ago. <\/span>[1]<\/span><\/a> [2]<\/span><\/a> [3]<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gunner\u2019s Story<\/span><\/h3>\n

At just 17 months old, Gunner was diagnosed with mucopolysaccharidosis type I Hurler syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting the body\u2019s ability to break down sugars. His family were told that without a transplant he would have only a year or two to live.<\/span><\/p>\n

After undergoing a failed transplant using stem cells from a donor in Germany, Gunner and his family desperately sought another solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remarkably, stem cells donated to NHS Blood and Transplant (the UK\u2019s national service responsible for blood, organ, and tissue donation) in 2008 were found to be a match for Gunner. Derived from umbilical cord blood, these cells had been cryogenically stored in liquid nitrogen for 15 years, ready and waiting to be used in a life-changing transplant.<\/span><\/p>\n

In January, Gunner received the stem cell transplant, which aimed to provide him with the ability to produce the enzyme he lacked in order to break down sugars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When the body is unable to break down sugars, these build up in what\u2019s known as lysosomes, parts of the cell responsible for waste management. <\/span>[4]<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The toxic buildup of waste molecules in lysosomes can have dramatic effects, leading to the cells either dying or not being able to function properly. This in turn causes severe symptoms, including problems with the heart, hearing loss, enlarged organs, respiratory problems and hernias.<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to the nature of the transplant, Gunner was forced to isolate for six months in order to avoid infection while his new white blood cells (derived from the cord blood stem cell transplant) were given the chance to propagate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Six months on and Gunner is reportedly enjoying the summer months with his big sister Daisy, going to the park, feeding the ducks, and getting back to being a five-year-old boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunner\u2019s family are elated to see his new lease of life and are helping to raise awareness of the importance of stem cell donation and the power of cord blood stem cells to change lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cord blood banking and the importance of a match\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Gunner\u2019s story highlights the importance of being able to access a stem cell donor match.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunner was fortunate enough to find a match with umbilical cord blood stem cells that had been donated through NHS Blood and Transplant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Storing your baby\u2019s stem cells privately however, gives them access not only to their own perfectly matched stem cells, but also a 75% chance that they may be usable by a sibling.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the field of regenerative medicine continues to advance, huge strides are being made in autologous stem cell treatments for genetic disorders. Autologous stem cell treatments are ones where a patient\u2019s own stem cells are used.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gene editing technologies like CRISPR offer huge potential in the development of autologous stem cell therapies for inherited conditions currently requiring transplants. <\/span>[5]<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

In November last year we reported on <\/span>a new autologous therapy<\/span><\/a> approved by the UK regulator for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Previously only treatable with a stem cell transplant from a donor, these two inherited diseases were found to be curable with stem cells taken from patients which were then edited to have the faulty, disease-causing genes removed. <\/span>[6]<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

There are many therapies currently in development to treat inherited diseases with autologous stem cells, diseases ranging from immunodeficiencies to blood disorders and metabolic disorders. <\/span>[7]<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

By saving your baby\u2019s own stem cells, you could give them a better chance of accessing these therapies should they ever need one in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

To find out more about how cord blood banking could safeguard your baby\u2019s health, fill out your details below for a free Info Kit.<\/span><\/p>\n

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References<\/b><\/p>\n

[1] Fofana, A. (2024, July 20). <\/span>Boy, 5, saved by stem cell transplant<\/span><\/i>. BBC. https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c4ngl620j1lo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[2] (2024, July 20). <\/span>Family of Shropshire boy, 5, with rare disorder given hope after umbilical cord transplant<\/span><\/i>. ITV News. https:\/\/www.itv.com\/news\/central\/2024-07-20\/family-of-boy-5-with-rare-disorder-given-hope-after-umbilical-cord-transplant<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[3] Lynch, N. (2024, July 20). <\/span>Boy, 5, diagnosed with deadly rare condition has life transformed after stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood<\/span><\/i>. Sky News. https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/boy-diagnosed-with-deadly-rare-condition-has-life-transformed-after-stem-cell-transplant-from-umbilical-cord-blood-13181740<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[4] (2022, August 17). <\/span>Hurler Syndrome<\/span><\/i>. Cleveland Clinic. https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/24000-hurler-syndrome<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[5] Qiu, Hou-Yuan et al. \u201cCurrent advances of CRISPR-Cas technology in cell therapy.\u201d Cell insight vol. 1,6 100067. 26 Oct. 2022, doi:10.1016\/j.cellin.2022.100067<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[6] NHS England (2023, December 8). <\/span>Casgevy \u2013 how it works<\/span><\/i>. Genomics Education Programme. https:\/\/www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk\/blog\/casgevy-how-it-works\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[7] Staal, Frank J T et al. \u201cAutologous Stem-Cell-Based Gene Therapy for Inherited Disorders: State of the Art and Perspectives.\u201d Frontiers in pediatrics vol. 7 443. 31 Oct. 2019, doi:10.3389\/fped.2019.00443<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”down-arrow” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#bd144f” custom_padding=”0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”RWP” module_id=”request-welcome-pack” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n

FIND OUT MORE, REQUEST YOUR FREE INFO KIT TODAY<\/h3>\n

All you need to know to make an informed decision.<\/p>\n

Provide your contact details to request:<\/p>\n

– Complete Info Kit and your Guide to Cord Blood Banking
– Information via email
– Contact from our specialist advisors<\/p>\n

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