Mum fears coronavirus will delay girl's life-saving op

The mother of a seriously ill young girl whose bone marrow transplant has been cancelled at short notice fears coronavirus may cause further delays.

Three-year-old Adeline Davidson was due to undergo the life-saving operation last Thursday but it was called off at short notice due to a minor medical complication.

Mum Steph said Adeline is particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 and that its global spread may prevent donor bone marrow being transported to Scotland from overseas.

Adeline, who suffers from a rare blood cancer called myelodysplasia, learned in January that a matching donor had been found in the US.

Steph, of Alness, Easter Ross, posted online: “My anxieties are through the roof with trying to keep Ads safe and away from bugs, just so we can be ready when they are!

“The spreading of the coronavirus is also a huge worry of mine, I really hope they find a cure very quickly, so that Adeline and everyone else vulnerable can be protected.”

‘The spreading of the coronavirus is also a huge worry of mine, I really hope they find a cure very quickly, so that Adeline and everyone else vulnerable can be protected.’
Steph Davidson

Adeline has been receiving weekly blood transfusions to keep her alive and was poised to undergo the gruelling transplant in Glasgow last week.

Steph told STV News: “This transplant would be life saving. They have said, putting it bluntly, that she would die without it. She needs it and the sooner the better.”

Because of global restrictions caused by coronavirus, Steph is concerned about the possible impact on transporting donor bone marrow.

There are also concerns about a donor potentially being infected by the virus.

They family have long been vigilant about Adeline as she is highly susceptible to infections but that has being heightened by the risks posed by the global epidemic.

Steph added: “It’s such a fast-moving situation and with coronavirus it has become even more complex, if it wasn’t complex enough.”

Adeline would undergo chemotherapy before receiving the transplant and would then need to stay in hospital for at least three months in strict isolation.