'My stem cells could save my son's life'

The father of a teenage leukaemia patient has offered to donate his stem cells to his own son, after the transplant from the original donor was delayed.

A match for 16-year-old Leo, from Bromsgrove, was identified just before Christmas - but doctors now say the donor needs to undergo further testing before the transplant can take place.

Leo's father, Warren, is not as ideal a match as the original donor, but said Leo needed the transplant urgently.

"His leukaemia is quite aggressive and there's a very, very strong chance it will come back without some kind of donor stepping in," he explained.

Leo was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last September.

He is currently in remission following treatment, but desperately needs a stem cell transplant to reduce the chance of the disease returning.

In November, more than 700 people attended a blood donor drive, and a suitable donor was found in December.

"We were ecstatic," said Warren. "We were supposed to go back into hospital on Tuesday to start the process, but on Friday afternoon his mum had a phone call saying the donor needs more testing done, which is going to put us back four weeks.

"We thought: OK, it's no big deal. It's a chance for Leo to stay at home a bit longer."

But Leo's donor team said it was too risky to wait.

"He was disappointed, but it can't be helped," said Leo's mum, Jenna. "He understands that they're trying to save his life.

"He takes it in his stride."

Both Warren and Jenna are potential matches for Leo - but a male-to-male donation is preferred.

Warren said it remained to be seen whether or not he would be a suitable donor.

"I've got to go into hospital for a load of tests," Warren told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "That's all we know at the minute.

"We don't know whether they're going to use me for the time being and then progress with the donor later on, or whether they're just going to use me and just see how it goes."

He added he was unsure of the exact transplant process - but would do whatever was needed.

"It's absolutely nothing compared to what he's gone through," he said. "Absolutely nothing.

"It's just one of those things, it's for your kids, so you get on with it and you do it.

"Hopefully what I'm doing is going to help my boy and give him the best chance."

Warren said Leo had been "incredibly strong" ever since his diagnosis.

"He just rolls with everything," he explained. "Obviously we're still absolutely heartbroken over the situation, no parent should see their child go through this.

"But [the way] he deals with everything, I'm really proud of him."

"He's taking it better than anyone," Jenna agreed. "And he's the one that's got cancer.

"He's truly amazing."

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