Jack’s bone marrow donation gave Ethan life

Brothers in arms

Last summer, Ethan was warming up for a swimming carnival when his mum Jess noticed something wasn’t right. Ethan was used to the usual pressure of competition, but he didn’t have the same spark that he normally had. He seemed pale; not his usual self.

Jess arranged a blood test, thinking it might be low iron levels or fatigue. Ethan kept up his usual routine and went back to school, with no idea of what was to come.

It was only a few days later that Jess got the call from their GP.

“In an instant, our whole world was turned upside down,” said Jess.

The instructions were clear: Ethan needed to be rushed to Sydney Children’s hospital — now.

Doctors set about trying to figure out what was going on. The only thing they could say for sure was that Ethan had bone marrow failure, and it was six weeks before he was ultimately diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia.

This rare disorder meant Ethan’s bone marrow couldn’t produce enough haemoglobin to carry oxygen around his body, was unable to produce white blood cells to fight infections, and also couldn’t produce enough platelets that clump together to stop bleeding.

Ethan’s doctor, Dr. Adam Nelson, specialises in bone marrow transplant and oncology at the Kids Cancer Centre. He advised that the best option for Ethan would be an urgent bone marrow transplant from a sibling donor — but older brother Jack only had a 25% chance of being a match.

Jack was only 12 at the time but was determined to step up for his little brother. As luck would have it, he was found to be a match! Jess recalls him being brave, even though he’d never had any operations before.

“It was a very special moment” she said.

Ethan’s diagnosis amplified the importance of blood donation in his family’s mind. He relied on transfusions to keep him well in the lead up to his bone marrow transplant and since then, his parents and doctor have become regular donors and encouraged other community members to give, too.

“It’s such a simple thing to do but for families like ours, it makes a life-changing difference.”

Moore reasons to give

Six months after his transplant, as a young Swans fan, Ethan was delighted to be at the launch of our Moore Park Donor Centre, located at the Swans HQ. He was accompanied by his parents and doctor, who are passionate blood donation advocates.

“As a doctor caring for children with cancer and blood disorders, I see the life-saving difference donated blood makes to our patients and the impact of this cannot be underestimated. It plays a vital role in helping us provide children like Ethan with the care and treatment they need and without it these children would not survive,” said Dr. Adam on donating blood.

Feeling inspired to give back and help? Book a blood donation today.