Our boy’s time is running out in his battle with silent killer – he needs your help

A FRANTIC dad has told how his son is running out of time in a battle with a silent killer – and needs the British public’s help to survive.

Little Alfie Pinckney, 8, has been fighting Aplastic Anaemia since he was five years old.

Charles PinckneyAlfie Pinckney was diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia when he was five[/caption]

Charles PinckneyHis family are desperate to find him a donor – which would ‘reboot’ his immune system[/caption]

He has platelet transfusions every week to keep him alive, but is weakened by the condition.

His hope now is to have a bone marrow transplant, which would effectively reboot his immune system.

But the problem is finding a donor that matches with the youngster – with dad, Charles, begging Brits to get tested incase they could be Alfie’s saviour.

The family of five – Charles, wife Lily, 45, Alfie and twin girls, 5 – are now in Exeter, having moved over from Hong Kong last year.

They hope a donor could be found in the UK, and have issued a countrywide appeal to reach everyone who could help.

Charles, 44, a real estate investment manager, said: We have to be extremely careful with him. A simple thing could just knock him out.

“What we are trying to do is get the word out as much as we can to as many people as we can to say ‘can you go and get tested and see if you are a match as we need your help’.

“Time is running out and all I want is as many people as possible to get tested.

“He’s battling away but it’s hard to watch him having to go through this.

“The main factor is – there’s a way of saving his life and it’s out there, and I can’t rest until I find it.”

Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells.

‘SAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL BOY’

Around 100-150 people are diagnosed in the UK each year.

Treatment can include immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, or blood and bone marrow transplants.

Alfie, who loves maths, football and choir, has to leave school each week for around four hours to have his life-saving treatment, but he is beginning to get weaker.

He has been living with the disease for three years now, and no donors who are a strong enough match have been found.

Charles added: “The big message is to get a number of people to swab who would be Chinese/Western, as my wife is from Hong Kong/Chinese – on the database, there are no matches so far.

“The chance is ticking lower. He is dealing with it as best he can, we are very honest.

“We are now at the stage of urgently needing to find a match for a bone marrow transplant before it’s too late and that time is fast approaching.

Charles PinckneyThe little boy has been bravely dealing with his condition for three years[/caption]

Charles PinckneyThe youngster has to have weekly transfusion to stay strong[/caption]

“We desperately need to get the message out to anyone who would consider becoming a donor to step forward and help save Alfie’s life. 

“Our beautiful boy is starting to lose his battle with this silent killer.

“The NHS has been providing such amazing care and now we’re reaching out further to save our son’s life.”

You can join the NHS bone marrow register, or on the DKMS register, here, or through Anthony Nolan register, here.

Charles PinckneyHis family moved from Hong Kong to Britain[/caption]

Charles PinckneyThe family have issued an appeal for Brits to get tested[/caption]