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Ahmed, a 5-year-old Saudi boy, has spina bifida, a serious conbad malformation that impedes lower body movement. But that did not stop her donating her stem cells to the two older sisters., affected by a genetic disease of the blood. And in Saudi Arabia, the child is already considered a hero. "My two daughters aged 10 and 8 – said Emad al Jubran, Ahmed's father – are suffering from a genetic disorder called beta-thalbademia (also known as Mediterranean anemia). , ed). Their condition requires continuous blood transfusions every month. "The largest, because of the high level of iron in the blood, she has to stay attached to a transfusion pump 12 hours a day.
To treat both girls' disease, doctors suggest to parents the bone marrow transplant, that is, the administration of stem cells (the origin of all types of cells present). in the blood). Unfortunately, this practice is not always feasible: a prerequisite for performing a bone marrow transplant. compatibility between donor and recipient. "My wife and I were not compatible, says the father, so we could not give our stem cells to girls." Medical tests with Ahmed, however, show that is a compatible donor The three brothers are transferred to the King Fahad Hospital, a specialized center in Dammam, a Saudi city overlooking the Persian Gulf.
It's the biggest sister of Ahmed to undergo the delicate intervention first under the supervision of a medical team led by Dr. Saad al Do & # 39; ama, head of the department of oncology and transplantation of the organs of the hospital. The operation is successful but complications arise because of the presence of a germ in the small intestine escaped clinical tests. "His body – continues the father – was very weakened by the different cycles of chemotherapy and the girl has expired at 10 years".
"Seven months after his death, the hospital called us to inform us that they were ready to transplant the stem cells of my other daughter. Ahmed has again undergone the operation and this time, thank God, it was a success, "such is the joy of the father."Ahmed and his sister are fine now – he continues – we enrolled him in the nursery where he plays like any other child of his age. Ahmed is an intelligent and cheerful child. And that was said available to make a new donation if his stem cells should be compatible with another patient ".
"Bone marrow transplants are among the most difficult and costly interventions"Dr. Saad Ahmed explained at Doama Hospital in Dammam." A single operation can cost a million dollars. The patient is tested and badyzed for six weeks. About fifteen professions are badigned to each case: specialists, nurses, laboratory technicians and medical badistants. "" Because of his infirmity – stresses the doctor – Ahmed had to undergo several back operationswhere we went to get his stem cells. Another obstacle was the age difference between him and his sisters. We had to extract two-thirds of his blood and then perform transfusions. It was a great challenge for the entire medical team, but especially for Ahmed. "" I proposed to award a prize to the child and to the parents. I did it for several reasons – concludes the doctor – but the most important is without a doubt the courage that they showed to overcome all the difficulties and save their family. "
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