Erine Cabrera is a four-year-old girl who has spent her entire life fighting a disease called juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, which results in an exaggerated production of immature white blood cells in the bone marrow.
Until yesterday, Erine lived in a sterile bubble at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona and her only hope was to hope that the chemotherapy she received would destroy the bone marrow she has.
Today, Erine recovers in the intensive care of the hospital, full of hope after receiving yesterday the stem cell transplantation from your sister's umbilical cord little one, Izel, who has come to the world to be the savior of this girl. Within two months, the results of this operation may be assessed. Erine's mother had to undergo an assisted reproduction treatment last year at a private clinic in Brussels, in which the embryo that was most compatible with Erine was genetically selected. Thus, on January 19, Erine (meaning "unique" in the Mayan language) was born to cure her sister.
These parents first tried to have their case taken in Spain, but the Ministry of Health denied it, because the request was out of time. This case highlights the importance of promoting umbilical cord banks. At this time, with the cords that are stored in Spain, only 30-40 percent of the cases that need them could be covered.
With the new Umbilical Cord Blood National Plan, it is intended that in eight years 90 percent of cases can be treated.
A lot of time for many sick children living against the clock.
Via | ABC In Babies and more | Umbilical cord blood banks in Babies and more | Childhood leukemia treated with umbilical cord stem cells offers greater survival
