A three-year-old Scots leukaemia patient who was chosen to be the face of a national campaign has undergone a life-saving transplant operation.
Ryan Ferguson received new stem cells from an anonymous donor in an operation carried out at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, Glasgow
Ryan, from East Kilbride, is fronting a new campaign called Sofa of Change for Anthony Nolan, the blood-cancer charity which found a bone marrow donor for him.
He had the bone marrow transplant last Friday in a procedure resembling a blood transfusion which provided him with new stem cells. The process, however, began eight days earlier when Ryan was given drugs to suppress his immune system in readiness for the new bone marrow.
His father Stuart said: "With all the medicine he took before that, the chemotherapy and so on, it has basically put Ryan at an all-time low.
"He's not very well at the moment – he's not eating or drinking, he has a sore mouth, sore stomach and so on, but unfortunately that is just part of the chemo.
"It's just one of those things. We have to take it a day at a time and try to get him healthy again.
"He's in isolation just now at the Schiehallion ward in Yorkhill and I reckon he'll be in for a minimum of four weeks yet.
"But he's a very brave wee boy. He has come through everything else and I'm sure he will come through this as well."
In October, Mr Ferguson and his wife Paula, together with the charity, organised a donor drive which turned into the most successful ever held in Scotland.
More than 1000 people from across the country queued up to fill in a short questionnaire and provide a saliva sample as potential stem cell donors.
On his Facebook page Mr Ferguson has now posted a photograph of his son's new stem cells, with the words: "This bag is the gift of life from a complete stranger we don't know. How do we ever thank them?
"Ryan is in isolation at present, not too great but he will get there soon. Love you pal from dad, mum, Calum & Andrew (his older brothers)."
Mr Ferguson, a self-employed joiner, told The Herald: "'Gift of life' is what I'm calling it. What more can you give someone than the gift of life?"
Ryan was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last August.
Following the donor drive last autumn the Fergusons received the long-awaited news that a donor had been found for Ryan – not from the East Kilbride event but from someone who was already on the bone marrow register.
After hearing the news, Mr Ferguson said: "I can't believe it. We weren't expecting it. It's very emotional. I've told friends and they have burst into tears."
At the time, Ryan had just finished a third round of chemotherapy. The operation was pencilled in for December 15 but had to be delayed as Ryan had a "couple of viruses", although that meant he was able to enjoy Christmas at home with his family.
Anthony Nolan's Sofa of Change appeal aims to raise £30,000. A picture of Ryan features on collection boxes sent to members of the public across the UK. A spokeswoman for the charity said: "We wanted to feature Ryan on the Sofa of Change because he and his family have been an inspiration throughout his diagnosis and treatment.
"Many patients who have had the transplant go on to lead very healthy lives. Recovery rates obviously differ for each patient. Some people are out within a few weeks and others take a bit longer."
l For more information, see www.anthonynolan.org/sofaofchange
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