Hugo's Bone Marrow Transplant
Support Hugo Black (9) and his family as he undergoes a Bone Marrow Transplant in Auckland.
Canterbury
Hugo Black is a Year 5 student at Swannanoa Primary School in North Canterbury. He's a very sociable chap who is a keen sportsperson. He has previously been an active member of the Mandeville Rugby Club and Cricket Team, and both the Swannanoa and Ohoka Touch Teams.
It all started on Boxing Day when his Mum Simone took him in to see the chemist, as Hugo appeared to be run down. This trip resulted in a visit to the A&E and then on to hospital, and after 4 days in hospital Hugo was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disorder called Aplastic Anemia.
Since then Hugo has been visiting Christchurch Hospital 3-4 times a week for both blood transfusions and platelet transfusions to get Hugo through to his transplant.
Hugo will undergo a bone marrow transplant in February, which involves a treatment of chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant. Hugo's older brother Harrison (14) is the bone marrow donor with his brother Caleb (16) being a great support too.
Jordan Selwyn's involvement (page creator)
I'm Uncle to Hugo, Harrison and Caleb and brother to their Mum. Simone and Richard have always been hard working parents and I'd like to help alleviate a tiny bit of the enormous pressure they're under.
Use of funds
Your assistance will help the family to be together while Hugo travels to Starship, where he is expected to reside for a period of 4-6 months. Funds raised will help ease the financial burden of full time parental care for Hugo, with Mum and Dad providing primary care for Hugo and support to each other in Auckland for the first 4-5 weeks while the transplant takes place. Dad will then be returning home to work and travelling to Auckland as often as possible with Hugo's brothers.
Latest update
August 2018 6 August 2018
Hugo travelled to Starship with Mum at the end of January 2018 to proceed with his bone marrow transplant (one year later than initially expected), unfortunately he contracted a number of infections and his transplant didn’t start until April. Both Mum & Dad joined Hugo in his room at Starship for 6 weeks while he went through transplant. With his transplant going to plan Hugo and his family returned home to Canterbury late July.
Last week was a huge milestone as Hugo passed day 100 post transplant and he is progressing well, prior to having his transplant he received well in excess of 130 blood and platelet transfusions (we lost count after that). As he was unable to make his own blood these transfusions are what have kept him alive until his transplant. Please consider donating blood if you are able and if you already do, you are making a real difference to someone's life.
Once again, thank you for taking an interest in our journey. We still have a wee way to go and fingers crossed Hugo will continue his progress to a full recovery.
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