Brave Mateoh Eggleton undergoes bone marrow transplant after US stem cell bungle

Little Mateoh Eggleton, whose transplant bone marrow cells were left on a US tarmac in a bizarre bungle, has had the potentially lifesaving transplant he so desperately needed. Now his family face a nervous wait for results.

The brave little Queensland boy whose transplant bone marrow cells were left on a US tarmac in a bizarre bungle has had the potentially lifesaving transplant he so desperately needed.

Six-year-old Mateoh Eggleton had his second bone marrow transplant on Monday.

Mateoh had been diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease in 2019, which was cured with an initial bone marrow transplant in 2020. However, it left him with haemolytic anaemia which required another transplant.

Shalyn Eggleton with son Mateoh. Picture: Nigel Hallett

In a post to Mateoh’s Facebook support group, Mateoh’s mother Shalyn Eggleton revealed, “all cells have been infused into Mateoh, now to wait 2-3 weeks for engraftment to see if the transplant has worked or not”.

The post, entitled ‘Mateoh’s new chance at life’, also featured a heartfelt thank you to their anonymous donor.

“To our donor we thank you for the ultimate gift of your bone marrow to potentially save my boy’s life.”

Mateoh Eggleton had the transplant on Monday. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The transplant comes after Ms Eggleton was told last week the donated bone marrow may be at risk of developing West Nile River virus after tests revealed his stem cell donor from the US may carry the disease.

In a post before Monday morning’s transplant Ms Eggleton said, “today is transplant day”.

“The labs say that Mateoh could possibly catch this virus – but then at the end of the day, we either do this transplant, give Mateoh a chance of life with the potential of a virus, or we don’t do the transplant and, he will pass away,” she said.

“We are just hoping and praying that the cells do graft into Mateoh. We don’t know if the transplant will work to be honest.”

According to the US Centre for Disease Control, eight out of 10 people infected with West Nile River virus do not develop any symptoms. Some go on to develop mild illness including a fever, aches, vomiting and diarrhoea, while one in 150 people experience severe illness affecting the central nervous system.

Ms Eggleton has launched a GoFundMe to help cover costs.

Originally published as Brave Mateoh Eggleton undergoes bone marrow transplant after US stem cell bungle