Above: James English (right) with brothers Edward (left) and Jason in 1999 as ambassadors for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute cord blood bank. By Sarah Schwager
VICTORIA’S first successful umbilical cord blood transfusion patient, Pakenham’s James English, has urged for more awareness of the procedure.
James was only four-years-old when he was diagnosed with the rare blood disease aplastic anaemia in 1994.
He was given 12 months to live.
But the timely birth of his younger brother Jason, now 11, allowed doctors to perform the then experimental operation of taking 45 millilitres of blood from Jason’s umbilical cord, freezing it and then transplanting it into James’ body.
Unlike bone marrow transplants, which require compatible tissue, the tissue types with cord blood do not need to be exactly the same.
After intensive chemotherapy, the transplant was successful.
James’ parents Isla and Darren English were also among the first donors to the Bone Marrow Donor Institute’s cord blood bank when they gave blood from the umbilical cord of their third son, Edward.
James, 15, said it was important to raise awareness about the disease to help save the lives of others.
“I am grateful that the doctors could do what they could but I really think there isn’t enough awareness of the condition itself,” he said.
“It’s only rarely that people suffering from the disease get saved.”
James, who is a year nine student at St Francis Xavier College, Berwick, said he had very few memories of the transplant but it had definitely made an impact.
“I still feel I’ve missed out on a large part of my childhood that I should have had,” he said.
“But now it doesn’t have too much effect.
“It definitely had its effect on the rest of the family.”
He said the actual disease itself was rare.
When last reported in the Gazette in 1999, James and his family had become unofficial ambassadors for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute’s cord blood bank and he and Jason were pictured on the institute’s poster and pamphlets.
James said that health-wise he was doing well.
“Every two years I need to go and see one of my doctors. It’s just a checkup to see that there are no side effects.
“I still have a few scars from what happened.”
James now enjoys drawing fantasy pictures, inline skating, riding his bike, writing stories and playing roller hockey.
He has three younger brothers, Jason, Edward, 9, and Thomas, 3.
“I’m still very grateful for the support that I got from my family and everyone around the Cardinia Shire who gave their support – even simple things like donating money and praying for me.”
