Donor found for rare disease boy

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A bone marrow donor has come forward for Kian Baker

A bone marrow donor has been found for a two-year-old boy from Gloucestershire who is the only person in the UK to suffer from a rare immune disorder.

Two-year-old Kian Baker from Cheltenham was diagnosed with PNP Deficiency in January which means his immune system does not function properly.

Kian's mother, Gemma Isaacs, 24, said she was "absolutely elated" as the bone marrow is a "perfect match".

It is hoped that Kian will start the treatment at the end of the summer.

'More sinister'

Gemma Isaacs first noticed that her son was lagging behind developmentally when he was about eight months old.

Ms Isaacs said that Kian always had colds and had caught pneumonia in October 2008.

It was when he got an infection in his finger which developed into septicaemia that doctors suspected something "more sinister". They found that Kian was neutropenic - meaning he could not fight this infection.

In January 2008 he was diagnosed with PNP Deficiency, becoming the only person believed to currently have the condition in the country.

PNP Deficiency is caused by a lack of Purine Nuceloside Phosphorylase enzyme. People with the condition can also suffer brain damage.

It is hoped the bone marrow transplant will boost his immune system and limit the neurological disorder.

Gemma Isaacs said: "A normal childhood illness like chicken pox could prove very difficult for Kian to cope with.

"We've been searching for a donor since January and it's absolutely fantastic that we have found one. The treatment will be a long hard road but it is what we have to do."

Kian is to be treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.