Update after boy’s lifesaving bone-marrow donor cells ‘left on tarmac’

A Queensland mum has shared an update after donor cells for her six-year-old son’s bone-marrow transplant were “left on the tarmac” at a US airport.

A devastated mum has shared an update after donor cells for her son’s lifesaving bone-marrow transplant were mistakenly left on the tarmac at a US airport.

Shalyn Eggleton’s son Mateoh suffers from a rare genetic disorder known as chronic granulomatous disease, which means his white blood cells are unable to fight off certain types of bacteria.

The six-year-old Gold Coast boy has trialled nine experimental treatments in the last year alone, all of which failed to cure his condition.

His final option was to undergo a lifesaving bone-marrow transplant, which are notoriously difficult to find a perfect biological match.

Finally, after an anxious three-an-a-half year wait, Mateoh was paired with a matching donor from the US, and was set to have the transplant this week.

Mateoh was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder in 2019. Picture: Nigel Hallet

But in a catastrophic airport bungle, the little boy’s transplant was somehow left on the tarmac in the US instead of being loaded on to the plane bound for Australia.

“Absolutely shocked disappointed, furious and angry at the health system in the news we received today,” Ms Eggleton wrote on a Facebook group dedicated to her son’s health journey.

“Unfortunately the donor cells from America have been ‘forgotten’ to be put on the courier plane to Australia, ultimately having to be sent back to where they were harvested to have more dry ice put in with them and stored.

“When they will arrive in Australia, we don’t know. For transplant we don’t know a date now.”

It has been a long three-and-a-half year wait to find a donor match. Picture: Nigel Hallet

But thankfully this weekend, the mum was able to share a positive update.

Despite being left on the tarmac for an unknown amount of time, the donor cells are still viable, and Mateoh will be able to undergo the transplant next month.

“The cells have arrived in Brisbane, they have been tested,” his mum wrote.

“They are viable. Transplant is a go ahead.”

The six-year-old will be admitted be admitted to hospital on Thursday, and his procedure will take place on March 13.

“You give me the strength to smile through each day,” she added.

“Even though I’m not ready to see you suffer and deteriorate the next few weeks.

“My boy this is your biggest fight, and I’ll be by your side every minute, hour, day, night, weeks and months. I’ll be fighting with you.”

The family is now anxiously waiting for the transplant to take place. Picture: Facebook

Mateoh’s story has touched hearts around the country. Picture: Facebook

Previously, Ms Eggleton shared her anger over the transplant bungle, and said she could not understand how it could happen.

“This is totally unacceptable and a further investigation should be carried out and someone held responsible,” she wrote at the time.

“They honestly won’t know the condition of the cells until they arrive in Australia and the labs test them.

“This is our last option to trial. Mateoh isn’t getting any better, let’s make that clear.”

The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is responsible for arranging and transporting bone marrow and blood stem cell donations for patients in Australia, working closely with hospitals to ensure transplants go smoothly.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Children’s Hospital said Mateoh has been a long-term patient at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and his care team shared the family’s disappointment at the delay in the delivery of his donor cells.

Thankfully, the cells were still viable and Mateoh’s transplant will go ahead in a couple of weeks. Picture: Facebook

“Mateoh’s donor cells are currently in transit to Australia and their delayed arrival will not adversely impact Mateoh’s care,” she said.

“At all times our priority has been ensuring the donation remains viable so Mateoh’s bone-marrow transplant can safely proceed.”

According to The Courier Mail, the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry CEO Lisa Smith said the registry was aware of an incident involving an extended delay to the delivery of blood stem cells from the US, and that an urgent investigation is under way to determine the cause.

Ms Eggleton and her family have shared their story online and have created a GoFundMe to help with her son’s medical expenses.