A brother as a lifesaver: Jacob's hope in Upper Austria!

A brother as a lifesaver: Jacob's hope in Upper Austria!

Jakob, a seven-year-old boy from Upper Austria, is battling a rare disease that attacks his nerve cells and adrenal glands. The only way to improve his condition and save his life is a stem cell donation. This urgent need was described by the family as a sort of “winning the lottery” as Jacob’s little brother David was identified as the donor and he is 100 percent compatible. The good news brought relief at a time when the family had to endure many worries and hospital stays, as [5min](https://www.5min.at/oesterreich/5202510180956/lotto-sechser-jakobs-7-groesste-chance-ist-sein- kleine-bruder/) reports.

Jacob's mother commented on the indescribable feeling that comes with the possibility that David can help his brother. The organization “Given for Life” shared the news on Facebook and is calling for people to get tested in order to be considered as a potential stem cell donor. Stem cell donations are crucial in cases like Jacob's disease because they often represent the only chance of survival, especially when chemotherapy and radiation treatments fail.

Stem cell donation and typing

Stem cell donation can be life-saving, especially for diseases such as leukemia, rare blood diseases and genetic defects. The typing process is carried out through a painless cheek swab, the purpose of which is to determine six HLA characteristics. Statistically speaking, every 323rd typing results in a life-saving stem cell donation, as explained by Give for Life. It is important that the genetic tissue characteristics of the donor and recipient match to ensure a successful transplant.

Stem cell donations occur primarily through two methods: about 80 percent of donations are collected from the bloodstream, while 20 percent involve collection of bone marrow under general anesthesia. Interestingly, after such a donation, the bone marrow regenerates within two weeks, so the body does not lack any stem cells. Registration for typing is possible for healthy people between the ages of 17 and 45, with donations possible up to their 61st birthday.

Challenge and hope

Jakob's situation and the support of his little brother David illustrate the urgency and necessity of stem cell typing. Diseases such as leukemia, which affect around 13,500 people in Germany every year, often require a transplant of stem cells from an unrelated donor, especially when other therapies are not sufficient. This procedure uses healthy stem cells to create new, healthy blood cells, which is the only real chance of recovery for many of those affected, as the Stefan Morsch Foundation explains.

Jacob's family and community are facing a challenging time that requires hope and determination. But the possibility that a simple typification of others can save lives gives both Jacob and his family new courage in this difficult situation.