Help Alan fight rare blood condition
A Cork mum and dad are doing everything in their power to help their young son in his battle against a rare and serious blood condition.
Alan, 6, was recently diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a condition that occurs when bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells.
In January, he was initially diagnosed with Henoch-schönlein purpura (HSP).
After 13 days enduring a high fever, a blood test showed that Alan’s blood cell count had dropped to a life-threateningly low level. A couple of days later in Crumlin Children Hospital in Dublin he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia.
As they await news as to whether Alan’s brave older brother, Milan, 10, is a matching doner for a bone marrow transplant, the family has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for Alan’s medical costs.
Alan is currently being kept alive via a Hickman line inserted in his chest.
The bone marrow transplant that Alan needs is not currently available in Ireland, meaning his family now face an expensive move to the UK for a minimum of three months in order to give their little boy the best possible chance of getting better.
While the medical treatment will be covered by the HSE, there are many other costs involved for the family, including the cost of travel and accommodation, not to mention the loss of earnings they will suffer. Alan’s father, Tibor, has had to quit his job in order to a full-time carer for his son.
“I'm launching this fundraiser to help all associated cost of this long and painful journey,” Alan’s mum, Marzena Bogusz, wrote on the Help Alan to fight Aplastic Anemia GoFundMe page.
“Your support, whether through prayer, positive thoughts, share of this fundraiser or financial contribution, means the world to us. We would like to thank you all of our friends, colleagues and employers who already showed an enormous support and offered their help.
“And very special thanks to all doctors, nurses and medical staff in Crumin Children Hospital and CUH for their tremendous job to help Alan,” added Marzena.