An 8-year-old boy from Florida, USA, has saved the lives of his two older siblings by donating his bone marrow.
Stefan Aihe’s siblings, 22-year-old Kingsley and 13-year-old Vanessa, were born with sickle cell disease, as per WESH on April 4. While it may take some time for a patient to find a match when it comes to bone marrow transplants, the family discovered Stefan was a perfect fit for his two older siblings.
Kingsley received Stefan’s bone marrow last November and is now cured, as per the report. Vanessa, meanwhile, underwent the transplant a few years earlier and has also been cured of the disease.
“It’s kind of a bit of a miracle, in my opinion,” Kingsley said in the report. Their mother also shared it must have been God’s work.
Meanwhile, Dr. David Shook was shocked to find Stefan was a match for both Kingsley and Vanessa. A bone marrow transplant is the only cure for sickle cell disease, as per the doctor, and has a success rate of 95 percent.
“It’s incredibly rare to have the same donor give to two different siblings,” Shook said in the report. “It’s uncommon, but it’s not impossible.” Cody Cepeda /ra
RELATED STORIES:
Principal dies after procedure to donate bone marrow to 14-year-old boy
Pastor dad to be saved by kidney from daughter he adopted 27 years ago