Post by leicesterlass on Jun 8, 2006 7:50:11 GMT -1
Sun Link
THE devastated parents of three young boys hit by a killer brain disease were told yesterday that a SECOND son had started to deteriorate rapidly.
Only an emergency bone marrow transplant can now save Connor Smith, eight.
The soccer-loving youngster has the same rare genetic illness — ALD — as his two younger brothers Callum and Jack.
So far only Callum, six, had shown symptoms. But now a scan has shown that it is “aggressively” damaging Connor’s brain.
Hope ... but boys face fight
The crushing blow came as parents Nicola, 26, and Scott, 28, were told Callum’s form of the disease was too advanced for a transplant to help.
But there was some hope for five-year-old Jack — scans showed he has so far been spared.
Nicola wept as she said: “Connor’s scan is bad. He urgently needs a transplant.
“I asked the doctor, ‘Can we save him?’ and he replied, ‘I think we can but we have to act quickly. We’re praying he can find a donor.”
He scores ... Leicester boss sees ball hit net
Connor — who won the heart of David Beckham during a recent meeting with the England World Cup squad — had shown NONE of the telltale signs.
The family expected the results of the brain scans in two weeks.
But Dr Colin Steward, the UK’s top ALD expert, rushed them through in less than 24 hours.
Nicola said: “The scan shows that Connor has an aggressive form of the disease. None of us can believe it because he looks so well — even the doctor seemed surprised.”
Kickabout ... trying to put ball past Rob
The mum, who broke down at the news, said: “This is more than anybody should be asked to bear. Only recently Connor did really well in his school SAT tests. We felt very hopeful that the brain damage had not started.”
Just hours before the terrible news, the boys played football with Rob Kelly, manager of their home town team Leicester City.
He surprised them with a visit after being moved by their story.
ANYBODY wishing to make a donation can send a cheque payable to the: Connor, Callum and Jack Fund, c/o 17 Whitteney Drive North, Eyres, Monsell, Leicester LE2 9AN.
THE devastated parents of three young boys hit by a killer brain disease were told yesterday that a SECOND son had started to deteriorate rapidly.
Only an emergency bone marrow transplant can now save Connor Smith, eight.
The soccer-loving youngster has the same rare genetic illness — ALD — as his two younger brothers Callum and Jack.
So far only Callum, six, had shown symptoms. But now a scan has shown that it is “aggressively” damaging Connor’s brain.
Hope ... but boys face fight
The crushing blow came as parents Nicola, 26, and Scott, 28, were told Callum’s form of the disease was too advanced for a transplant to help.
But there was some hope for five-year-old Jack — scans showed he has so far been spared.
Nicola wept as she said: “Connor’s scan is bad. He urgently needs a transplant.
“I asked the doctor, ‘Can we save him?’ and he replied, ‘I think we can but we have to act quickly. We’re praying he can find a donor.”
He scores ... Leicester boss sees ball hit net
Connor — who won the heart of David Beckham during a recent meeting with the England World Cup squad — had shown NONE of the telltale signs.
The family expected the results of the brain scans in two weeks.
But Dr Colin Steward, the UK’s top ALD expert, rushed them through in less than 24 hours.
Nicola said: “The scan shows that Connor has an aggressive form of the disease. None of us can believe it because he looks so well — even the doctor seemed surprised.”
Kickabout ... trying to put ball past Rob
The mum, who broke down at the news, said: “This is more than anybody should be asked to bear. Only recently Connor did really well in his school SAT tests. We felt very hopeful that the brain damage had not started.”
Just hours before the terrible news, the boys played football with Rob Kelly, manager of their home town team Leicester City.
He surprised them with a visit after being moved by their story.
ANYBODY wishing to make a donation can send a cheque payable to the: Connor, Callum and Jack Fund, c/o 17 Whitteney Drive North, Eyres, Monsell, Leicester LE2 9AN.
