Stanway mother teams up with blood cancer charity DKMS

Katie Boker-Carver, 33, of Stanway, is urging residents in Colchester to register to become stem cell donors after being inspired to influence change following her son Niko's devastating diagnosis.

The brave four-year-old was told he was fighting B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the tender age of just two-years-old.

Since being diagnosed, Niko has received five blood and platelet transfusions, has been in theatre fifteen times for an array of different procedures, and has had to have daily chemotherapy.

Love Katie Boker-Carver, 33, of Stanway, with her son Niko (Image: Public)

Thanks to stem cell donations, however, Niko has been able to receive the lifesaving treatment needed to help him.

Courageous Katie, who also has a five-year-old daughter, said: "Since Niko was diagnosed, it's been an awful emotional rollercoaster.

"We were told 86 per cent of his blood marrow was taken up by the leukaemia cells and if we had waited another 24 hours for medical attention, we possibly wouldn't be telling the story we are today. 

"As it stands, he shouldn't require a bone marrow transplant. Having said this, if he were to relapse at any stage from now a bone marrow transplant may be our only option to give him a second chance at life and to save him from cancer.

"For this reason, we are very passionate about spreading awareness of childhood cancer and the signs and symptoms to look out for. 

"Any parent can imagine the immense pain and concern of being told your child has a life-threatening disease and is seriously unwell.

"It's never you until it is. I wasn't an oncology parent last year until I was told Niko had cancer and my world fell down around me."

Katie has now paired up with the blood cancer charity DKMS and is now planning to host a Swab To Save A Child event at the New Lakelands Community Centre in Stanway on Sunday.

She hopes to be able to convince more people between 17 to 55 who are in good health to become stem cell donors

"I'm running a Swab To Save A Child event in partnership with DKMS to show people that signing up is a simple process, as is the donation itself, if you're lucky enough to be someone's lifesaving match," added Katie.

"I want people to be able to come along, do their mouth swab and get registered, so that we can find a lifesaving match for every child or adult in need of a donation.

Brave - Niko, now four, was told he was fighting B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the tender age of just two-years-old (Image: Public)

"Along this journey, we have met many families who have required a transplant and we want to do our bit in helping to ensure  there are donors ready to be matched with poorly children.

"Our goal is to inspire our local communities during these tough times without asking for financial donations. People can simply swing by, do a quick cheek swab, sign up to the register, and within just a few minutes, possibly become a life-saving match.

"Contrary to common belief, donating is not scary or invasive."

Stephan Schumacher is the chief executive of DKMS UK.

He said: "Our mission at DKMS is to recruit potential donors so every patient in need of a stem cell donation can find their lifesaving match.

"We're proud to have given 105,000 patients a second chance at life, and their families more time with their loved ones.

"There's still a long way to go to meet the demand and support families like Katie's in their hour of need.

"If you're eligible, this Blood Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, you can make the difference of a lifetime."

The event will run between 9am and 2pm.