Brave girl beats rare type of leukaemia – thanks to bone marrow from little sister
Their nan wondered if younger sister Mabel will be asking to borrow all kinds of things from big sister Ruby to pay her back for it
A GIRL with a rare blood cancer was saved – thanks to bone marrow from her little sister.
Ruby Leaning was six when she collapsed on the school playground and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Her two-year-old sister, Mabel, proved a perfect match and donated marrow for a transplant.
Two years later, Ruby was declared cancer-free and is now a happy and healthy ten-year-old who loves swimming, dancing and piano lessons.
Her gran, Amanda Fawcett, 56, said: “She had the stem cell treatment and she actually got the stem cells from her little sister Mabel because she was a perfect match.
“We wasn’t expecting her to be a match at first but thankfully, she was so we just couldn’t believe our luck.
“It was amazing – we were so thankful.
“The treatment from Mabel helped her go into remission – Mabel saved her life for sure.”
But she added: “I’m sure Mabel will make Ruby pay her back when she’s older.
“She will be asking to borrow Ruby’s shoes. It will be fun and games.”
The family, of Grimsby, Lincs, are speaking out as they host a fundraiser for support group Pact, which helped them during their hospital ordeal.
