Gibraltar News Online

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Huge Response to Bone Marrow Appeal for Julian produces mixed results

Filed under: Health, Julian — Gibraltar News Online @ 1:55 pm

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Julian Baldachino Bone Marrow Donor Appeal - Massive response by Gibraltar community is “truly remarkable” says Health Minister

The GHA’s Pathology Department yesterday announced the results of blood tests collected in Gibraltar, following the appeal launched last month, to find a suitable bone marrow donor for young Gibraltarian Julian Baldachino.

Last month, a desperate appeal was launched by the family of 15-month old Julian, with the support of the Gibraltar Government.

Julian, who was diagnosed with Leukaemia at the age of 10 months, has been at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children since April receiving multiple doses of chemotherapy.

Yesterday, the GHA’s Pathology Department said they have now received all the results of around 3,500 blood tests which were collected in Gibraltar. Laboratories in Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US have been engaged in analysing the tests within the time window identified by Julian’s Medical Team at Great Ormond Street.

The GHA said that amongst some of the results which were delivered to the GHA on the 14 November, there were three potential donors who had a B locus match. These were sent to the UK for further analysis. Unfortunately, after further testing, none of the potential donors have compatibility for the bone marrow transplant required by Julian.

However, in a more hopeful tone, the GHA added that an umbilical cord blood stem cell match of 4 of 6 parameters was recently found in the UK. This will now be proceeded with and the procedure is expected to be carried out on 27th November 2008.

According to the information provided to Mrs Baldachino by Julian’s medical team, this is a very significant improvement over the previous plan of using Mrs Baldachino’s own bone marrow donation, as umbilical cord cells are less likely to cause transplant rejection.

The Minister for Health, Yvette Del Agua said:

“Gibraltar should be very proud of the great effort that it has made in trying to find a match for Julian. It has been a truly remarkable response from the public and a living manifestation of the solidarity and generosity which characterises this community. I am sure that everyone in Gibraltar will join me and the GHA in wishing Julian and his family the very best of luck for the future.”

In a Facebook Group (Support Julian fight against Leukemia) update, Julian’s mother, Alison Baldachino, said Julian is “doing really well and becoming very naughty!” The family are back at Julian’s hospital bedside preparing for the transplant. Alison added that everyone is “keeping fingers and toes crossed and having lots of positive thoughts.”

We also send Julian and his family and friends our very best wishes!