A six-year-old Queensland boy will get his critical bone marrow transplant after the tissue was left on the tarmac at a US airport.
Mateoh Eggleton had been waiting months for the marrow, leaving his mother Shalyn “really frustrated” as she tried to get the bottom of how such an unfathomable mistake could happen.
The cells have now arrived in Brisbane after his mother fought to get Mateoh’s lifesaving treatment to Australian shores.
The marrow has been tested and is deemed viable meaning the transplant for Mateoh has been scheduled for early March.
Mateoh suffers from chronic granulomatous disease, a genetic disorder which means his white blood cells are unable to fight off certain types of infections.
He has an additional syndrome that causes his red blood cells to attack his body.
This week Shalyn Eggleton questioned how the critical medical tissue could be left behind at an airport.
“He’s fought three and a half years…and for someone to be so neglectful and just naive when it comes to such a thing like this.
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“Like, this is what he’s been waiting for and someone’s just left it behind,” Eggleton said.
She said they had trialled nine different treatments throughout the last 18 months.
“We were told at the end of last year I have to make the decision whether to do the transplant or not, knowing that it’s our last option.
“And looking how well he is (there was) no way I could stop treatment.
Shalyn said Mateoh is still on chemotherapy to “keep him going” while they wait for the transplant.
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