Mateoh Eggleton: Boy, 6, whose stem cells were left at US airport undergoes 'life-saving' transplant
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: A six-year-old boy has undergone potentially life-saving surgery. Mateoh Eggleton, from Gold Coast, Queensland, underwent a stem cell transplant after the procedure was delayed when his cells were accidentally left on the tarmac of a US airport on Monday, March 13. The boy was diagnosed in 2019 with a rare genetic disorder called chronic granulomatous disease, which prevents his white blood cells from protecting him from certain microorganisms.
His health problems were initially resolved by a first transplant in 2020, but he was later diagnosed with an even rarer and life-threatening disease, hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can even lead to kidney failure. Therefore, this transplant was considered the beginning of a second chance for him to resume a normal life, and he will reportedly remain in the hospital for 90 days until he fully recovers, 7News reported.
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'Thank you to my donor'
After his operation, Mateoh expressed his gratitude to the donor, and his mother Shalyn said that there was still a long road ahead, reports 7News. “Thank you to my donor,” Mateoh said moments after the transplant, which did not require him to go under general anesthesia. “I’m somewhat a little bit relieved but we’ve still got a long road to go for recovery for Mateoh,” said his mother Shalyn Eggleton
Eggleton said it will at least take two weeks for the doctors to determine whether the surgery was successful or not with them noting that to prepare for the worst. "There's a possible chance of pneumonia," she said. "Doctors have let us know to be prepared for ICU and ventilators." While Mateoh was ultimately able to find a donor, it was difficult for him to obtain the vital cells, as per DailyMail.
The transplant will be Mateoh's hardest battle
The patient's family was shocked when the cells were left behind at a US airport last month, on their way to Brisbane before the transplant ever made it to Australia. The little child spent time in and out of the intensive care unit for his initial transplant for granulomatous illness. This transplant will be Mateoh's hardest battle, his mother Shalyn said on the Today Show on Monday, reports DailyMail.
"This is our last option for treatment," Ms Eggleton told the Today Show. "Mateoh's a bit nervous as you would be, this will be our toughest (step). This transplant being our last option to trial, we actually don't know if it's going to take or not take," she said. "We don't know how sick Mateoh's going to get. We just don't know how it's going to go and that's where my biggest nerves are at the moment," she added.