A family's thanks for gift of life

The parents of a boy who has had a life-saving bone-marrow transplant have said a huge thank you to the man who was the donor.

Jacob Giles, 22 months, returned home to Lowfield Lane, Balderton, after three months at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

He was diagnosed a year ago with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects the immune system.

His parents, Miss Vicky Tasker, 30, and Mr David Giles, 33, were told Jacob needed a bone-marrow transplant and three months later a perfect match was found. The donor was a 45-year-old man from New Zealand.

Jacob’s treatment started in February with chemotherapy to destroy abnormal blood and stem cells in preparation for the transplant, carried out through a central line, similar to a blood transfusion.

Miss Tasker said Jacob responded well to the treatment but then caught two viruses, which made him very poorly.

She said: “He has no immune system so it is very easy for him to catch anything.”

She said it was hard being in isolation for so long and even now they were home they still had to be extremely careful and could not go anywhere that was busy and where Jacob could potentially catch an illness.

She was pleased to be back with her other sons, Dylan, 13, and Morgan, 9, but said she was apprehensive too as it meant they were leaving behind the specialist help.

Jacob will continue to be monitored and must attend the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, three times a week.

Miss Tasker said they felt lucky and were grateful to Jacob’s donor. They have sent him a card to say thank you.

“He has saved the life of a child,” she said.