Harvey is a hero for helping sister in
bid for cure

Skye Sutcliffe has two types of the cancer and her brave brother Harvey, who is just three, made the donation. The youngster was a perfect match for his nine-month-old sister, and now their parents Amie and Damion must wait to see whether the bone marrow transplant was a success.

Skye was only four months old when she became ill in January. After developing a rash, she was rushed to hospital where doctors first suspected meningitis.

But after tests, they gave her parents the devastating news that it was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

She started treatment immediately at Leeds Children’s Hospital, however soon afterwards her parents were told Skye had a second type of leukaemia too – a combination called biphenotypic acute leukaemia.

Skye was treated with steroids and chemotherapy, but doctors said a bone marrow transplant was essential.

Her parents, Amie and Damion, four-year-old brother Riley and Harvey were all tested, and Harvey was found to be a good match.

Amie said: “I was petrified because I knew what had to happen. Putting him through pain, I was not really happy about. At first I said I didn’t want the other kids to be involved.”

But doctors explained that a sibling donation would be much better than one from a stranger, which would never be a complete match.

“We didn’t really have a choice, it’s much more successful when it’s a sibling,” Amie added. The youngster recovered quickly and Skye is now in isolation in hospital while medics wait to see whether the transplant has worked.