A BRAVE toddler has undergone a life-changing bone marrow transplant thanks to the help of an anonymous donor.

Henry Alderson, three, was admitted to hospital last month for five days of high intensity chemotherapy to kill his own bone marrow and make space for the donor’s bone marrow.

On Wednesday, the youngster underwent the bone marrow transplant which will change his life drastically.

The youngster was born with a rare genetic condition called diamond blackfan anaemia which stopped his bone marrow working properly.

He had to have blood transfusions every three to four weeks to stay alive.

He is also the only person in the world to have a faulty myelodysplasia gene too, making it more likely that he will develop a form of blood cancer.

Henry’s parents Zoe and Craig were trying to raise £50,000 for three cycles of IVF for a sibling for their son as the sibling was thought to be the best chance of a bone marrow match to transform Henry’s life.

But an anonymous donor came forward to give Henry the transplant he so desperately needed.

Zoe said the treatment was gruelling on a number of levels.

She said: “He’s suffering with the side effects of the chemo, he’s developed mucositis which means he’s in quite a lot of pain and he can’t eat.

“He is hooked up to a machine which bypasses his tummy and feeds nutrition directly into his vein.

“However it is all to be expected though and completely normal for the kind of chemotherapy he’s had.

“His hair will also start to fall out from next week.

“We just have to wait for Henry’s body to accept the new bone marrow, this can take up to a month.

“We’re in full isolation until then, Henry cannot leave his hospital room.”

Henry will be in the hospital for at least a couple of months.

Zoe, 32, of Dovercourt, asked if people wanted to send Henry cards they should send them to the St Mary’s Hospital in London.

She said: “Henry keeps asking to go outside and is having a hard time adjusting to being stuck in one room so any post really cheers him up.”

Money which the couple raised through donations before the bone marrow donor was found will go towards a Diamond Blackfan Anaemia charity.

If you would like to send a card to Henry, send it to:

Henry Alderson

Grand Union Ward

St Mary’s Hospital

QEQM Building

Paddington

London

W2 1NY