Kent News - Delight as medics allow bone marrow patient home

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Friday, September 3 2010, 7:14

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Delight as medics allow bone marrow patient home

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Jamie Zammit with mum Donna

Bone marrow transplant patient Jamie Zammit will spend Christmas at home after doctors agreed he was well enough to leave hospital.

The 10-year-old, from Bromley, has Fanconi anaemia, which eventually leads to bone marrow failure if a donor cannot be found.

He underwent a successful transplant operation on October 13 and is now looking forward to spending the festive season at home with his family. Mum Donna said: “It’s like having a completely different person about the place.

“Jamie knew the seriousness of the situation and knew what he was up against, but he has such a great sense of humour and the doctors told him he played a big part in his own recovery.

“Now he just wants to get up and do stuff all the time. He has his life back and he can’t stop smiling. He’s so happy.”

Ideally Jamie would have received a perfect bone marrow match from a relative, but none could be found. As a result, doctors at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital allowed the transplant to go ahead using the closest match available.

Although the youngster has been allowed to return home, he will need to undergo regular check-ups in the coming months to ensure his body does not reject the marrow.

Mrs Zammit said: “Jamie’s keeping well at the moment. He’s had his first check-up and that was good, so we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed that things stay that way.

“He can’t go back to school for another six months and we can’t really go out or have people around in case he catches a bug off someone.

“We’re hoping to have a party for him at some point, but for the time being we’re just looking forward to enjoying Christmas at home together.”

POSTED: 05/12/2008 10:25:05