Parents are desperately looking for stem cell donors for their terminally ill three year olds

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In Zeiten von Corona, in denen wir uns über soziale Kontakte und die Möglichkeit, den Sommer zu genießen, eingeschränkt fühlen, gibt es Menschen, für die die Isolation noch viel schwerwiegender ist. Ein solcher Fall ist die Geschichte von Leandra, einer Dreijährigen aus Berlin, die unter einer seltenen Bluterkrankung namens schwere aplastische Anämie leidet. Ihr Immunsystem ist so stark geschwächt, dass schon ein harmloser Virus für sie tödlich sein könnte. Leandra lebt seit April isoliert von anderen Menschen in ihrer Altbauwohnung in Prenzlauer Berg. Sie kann das Gebäude nur noch aus dem Fenster betrachten und sehnt sich danach, ihre Freunde wiederzusehen …
In times of Corona, in which we feel limited through social contacts and the opportunity to enjoy summer, there are people for whom the isolation is even more serious. Such a case is the story of Leandra, a three -year -old from Berlin who suffers from a rare blood disease called severe aplastic anemia. Your immune system is so weak that a harmless virus could be fatal to you. Leandra has lived in isolated from other people in her old building in Prenzlauer Berg since April. She can only look at the building out of the window and longs to see her friends again ... (Symbolbild/MB)

In times of Corona, in which we feel limited through social contacts and the opportunity to enjoy summer, there are people for whom the isolation is even more serious. Such a case is the story of Leandra, a three -year -old from Berlin who suffers from a rare blood disease called severe aplastic anemia. Your immune system is so weak that a harmless virus could be fatal for you.

Leandra has lived in isolated from other people in their old apartment in Prenzlauer Berg since April. She can only look at the building out of the window and longs to see her friends again and enjoy summer like other children. But because of her illness, she can only leave the apartment if she has to go to the clinic inpatient again. In the past few months she has already spent many weeks in the children's oncology of the Helios Clinic Berlin-Buch.

The diagnosis was completely surprising for Leandra's parents. They initially did not recognize the serious illness because Leandra was a healthy and happy child beforehand. But suddenly she got bruises all over the body and suffered from a bacterial skin infection. A pediatrician found during a blood test that their inflammation values ​​were very high and diagnosed a streptococcal infection. After the blue spots disappeared, the parents were calmed down for the time being.

But soon afterwards Leandra got problems. She developed a rash all over the body and there was bleeding. The pediatrician prescribed cortisone, whereupon the rash went back. Leandra was still allowed to go to kindergarten. But then came the worst day in her parents' life. During a blood test, it turned out that Leandra's blood values ​​were catastrophic and could indicate leukemia. Leandra was immediately admitted to children's oncology. The severe aplastic anemia was finally diagnosed there.

The doctors said that a bone marrow transplant for Leandra is essential. Due to bone marrow failure, it has a greatly reduced immune system and a high risk of getting life -threatening diseases. In addition, it has to regularly receive transfusions of red blood cells. The search for a suitable donor from Leandra's family was unsuccessful, which is why immunosuppressive therapy was initially started. However, this often only helps in some of the patients and usually not permanently.

Leandra's life's life has changed completely since the diagnosis. They had to reduce their jobs to be there for their child around the clock and are now also worried about their existence. Every blue stain or change makes you willingness to alert. Leandra's father hopes that fate will turn for the positive and that a suitable stem cell donor will be found. Because this is the only way to take Leandra the chance to take part in social life and to visit her daycare.

The parents started the call "Laughing Leau Leandra | DKMS" via the DKMS and hope that as many people as possible will register as potential donors. Because Leandra's life depends on the generosity of other people. Leandra's father also emphasizes how important it is that the community holds together in such situations. You just have to imagine that something like this or a loved one could happen.

The fate of Leandra shows us how important stem cell donors are and how much you can save the lives of another person. If you want to help, register as a donor with the DKMS and give people like Leandra a new chance of health and a carefree life.