Max

Max was diagnosed with CML on Friday May 23rd 2003. He was 10 at the time and after a short treatment of Hydroxyurea was started on Glivec. Glivec helped to reduce both Max’s englarged spleen and the cancer cells in his bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant was discussed at a routine appointment in February (17th to be exact!). Both Max’s parents cried at this prospect as did Max who was confused and scared.

Glivec had become their ‘comfort blanket’. Over the next couple of months Max’s parents had several more appointments with the consultants to discuss BMT procedure. Max and his parents met with many professionals and then decided that they did want to go down the BMT route. So, early in July 2005 max had his Hickman line fitted which would be accessed for all his treatment and was also fitted with an NGT (naso gastric tube). The days before the new cells are given are full of treatment and some of the drugs left Max feeling very unwell. The following days after the BMT in isolation Max and his parents waited anxiously for news of any blood counts which would mean that the donor cells had engrafted. On day 11 Max’s neutrophils appeared and by day 13 he was out of isolation. There have been setbacks along the way with various infections etc however 6 months after transplant the PCR test showed no signs of Leukaemia and Max is 100% donor cells. Max is now back at school and takes each day as it comes.