### Family in Urgent Appeal for Stem Cell Donor as Teenage Boy Faces Aggressive Leukaemia Relapse
A Lincoln family have issued a heartfelt appeal in the hope of finding a stem cell donor for Reece Khan, a 16-year-old who received the devastating news that his cancer had returned – on the very day he turned sixteen.
Reece first battled acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) after being diagnosed at just eleven, shortly before the onset of the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. The blood and bone marrow cancer sent shockwaves through the family, already grappling with the constraints and isolation of the pandemic. His mother, Selina Niman, a 51-year-old care worker, described the moment as “absolutely devastating,” highlighting the compounded misery caused by visitor restrictions at the hospital.
Over three and a half years, Reece endured intensive treatment and, 18 months ago, received the much-anticipated news that he was in remission. For Reece, who finds joy in baking and watching cookery shows, life seemed to be returning to normal. However, the normality was short-lived. Earlier this year, persistent headaches prompted an MRI scan in April. The following day – coinciding with his birthday – doctors revealed that the cancer had not only returned but had also spread to his brain.
The road ahead is daunting. Medical professionals have given Reece a one-in-five chance of survival, and his treatment is due to intensify, involving stronger chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and – crucially – a stem cell transplant. “He’s scared now,” Selina admitted, adding that their entire family is overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. “We just don’t know where else to go or what else to do. Words cannot explain how we feel now. I just want to swap places with him.”
One of the immediate difficulties for the family is Reece’s mixed heritage – his background is both white and Asian. This unfortunately reduces his chances of finding the best possible match, as finding donors with similar genetic profiles is usually more difficult for people with mixed ethnicities. His older brother, Kyle, aged 25, has already been tested but is only a half match, making the need for a wider search urgent.
Working alongside the Anthony Nolan charity, the family have begun an international search across stem cell donor registers. Anthony Nolan, well-known for matching donors to blood cancer patients, is spearheading the appeal. Selina has encouraged as many people as possible, particularly those from mixed or minority backgrounds, to register as potential donors. “All it takes is a swab from the inside of your cheek,” she explained. “It’s not painful and could be the difference between life and death for someone like Reece.”
Rowena Bentley, the head of programme and community recruitment at Anthony Nolan, highlighted the symbolism in Reece’s case – being told about his relapse on the very day he became eligible to join the register himself. “We know that younger stem cell donors, aged 16 to 30, provide the best hope of survival for patients. That’s why raising awareness and recruiting from this group is so important,” Ms Bentley stated.
Medical data supports these calls for action: younger donors frequently result in more successful transplants because their stem cells engraft more efficiently. Despite advances in cancer care, the availability of suitable donors remains a stumbling block, especially for patients from ethnically diverse backgrounds where registries can still lack representation.
The family’s appeal has resonated locally and online, with hopes resting firmly on the kindness and action of strangers. Their story adds a personal face to the ongoing need for more people to consider joining the stem cell registry. For Reece, the race is on – his family, medical team, and the wider community are all working against the clock.
Anyone willing to register as a potential stem cell donor can do so easily via the Anthony Nolan website. A few minutes and a simple cheek swab could truly offer a lifeline to children like Reece, desperately waiting for their second chance.