A Newry schoolboy who suffers from leukaemia received a second stem cell transplant on Wednesday afternoon (January 31).
Daniel Greer (16) was flown over to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on January 16, where he has been an inpatient for a number of weeks.
Up to this point, he’d been having tests to check if he was strong enough to undergo the stem cell transplant.
Back in 2022, Daniel and his family were left devastated with the leukaemia diagnosis.
Following an extensive appeal for a rare bone marrow doner, the Abbey Christian Brothers’ School student found a match and received his first life-saving stem cell transplant in October of 2022.
In June 2023, scans showed that Daniel had no traces of active cancer in his body, following progress from his stem cell transplant.
However, last September the family were devastated when blood tests showed that the leukaemia had returned, meaning Daniel had to undergo more chemotherapy in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
The teenager’s journey has been charted throughout on the ‘Do It For Daniel’ Facebook page, which was initially set up as part of the fight to find a stem cell donor match.
In a post on social media prior to Daniel’s second transplant, the family said: “It’s been a tough few days for all the family, some of the hardest of the past 20 months. But Daniel is determined to take this chance at life, knowing that there are no other safer options left. His Mum and Dad are so proud of the fight he is putting up, and his will to survive, even though cancer is really hitting him hard.”
In a further post following the transplant, they added: “Everything went as well as could be expected. We’re just delighted and relieved to get this far. He is the bravest 16-year-old we know and he even managed to press the button on the machine to begin the transfusion himself!
“The past few days of intensive treatment to prepare for transplant have taken their toll on him, and we know he still has his biggest battle ahead while we wait for the transplant to work.
“But just for today, we are counting our blessings and thanking his doctors and nurses for all they are doing to keep him safe. We really appreciate all your prayers and kind-hearted messages – your continued support is helping him to battle on.”
The family continue to appeal for new bone marrow donors. You can find out more information here.
