Transplant campaign toddler dies

Iona's parents still want people of mixed-ethnicity to become donors

A toddler with leukaemia who was treated in hospital in Oxford has died just weeks after a bone marrow transplant to try to save her life.

It took months and an international campaign to eventually find a suitable donor in Australia.

Despite being a perfect "10-out-of-10" match, Iona's body was "exhausted" from the treatment" and she died on Tuesday.

Her parents, Anita Kan and Kevan Stratton, from Hertfordshire, said they were "absolutely devastated."

Iona's mixed ethnicity meant doctors found it hard to find a suitable donor.

Her mother is Chinese and and The Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity which matches leukaemia patients with donors, said of the potential donors listed on its register, fewer than 4% of volunteers were Asian.

The figure is much lower for many other ethnic groups.

Her totally exhausted body could not cope anymore Anita Kan and Kevan Stratton, parents

Her parents appealed for people from different ethnic backgrounds to join the bone marrow register.

Before the operation she had been in an isolation ward for nearly two months.

The transplant took place in Bristol on 19 November and after complications which included viruses and a build up of fluid in her lungs, she died on 4 December.

Her parents said: "We are absolutely devastated that our beautiful daughter Iona lost her battle.

"Iona died in our arms and was heavily sedated so she did not suffer any pain.

"She had a lung infection and a couple of viruses that took its toll on her body along with the treatment she received since she was 13-weeks-old.

"Her totally exhausted body could not cope anymore."

Ms Kan and Mr Stratton said the consultants worked hard to help her overcome the complications but she could not physically cope.

They added: "Our time at the Bone Marrow unit has been mentally and physically exhausting. As parents we are quite relieved that her suffering is over.

"There no words to describe how we are feeling at this time."

People interested in becoming a potential donor should call the Anthony Nolan Trust on 020 7284 1234.