Shropshire boy loving life at Christmas one year on from stem cell transplant aimed at extending his life

Gunner Lewis-Vale from Highley near Bridgnorth has a rare life-limiting metabolic disorder that stops his body from breaking down sugar.

He was diagnosed in 2021, aged 17 months, and given just one or two years to live without a stem cell transplant.

Gunner received a transplant shortly after Christmas in January this year, using stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood that was generously donated to NHS Blood and Transplant just before Christmas in 2008.

This summer, and after six months of isolation, Gunner was able to go outside for the first time since the transplant, and he is now celebrating Christmas with his family - and even turned on the Christmas lights in his village.

Gunner’s mum, Holly Lewis-Vale is supporting an ongoing appeal for more people to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry.

She said: "It’s incredible to think how much life has changed over the last year for Gunner and the wider family. We had a really difficult first half of the year, when Gunner had to isolate after the stem cell transplant but we’re now really beginning to see the difference it has made and are enjoying celebrating Christmas all together.

"Gunner and his big sister, Daisy, turned on the Christmas lights in our village this year, which was extremely special and added to the magic of this time of year. We’re spending Christmas Day with my dad and sister and are excited to create memories together as a family.

"We are so grateful to the mother who chose to donate her child’s umbilical cord all of those years ago - without them, Gunner wouldn’t have been able to have his stem cell transplant and things would look very different for us this Christmas. 

"I cannot urge people enough to register as a stem cell donor if they are able. It really does make a huge difference to the people who need a stem cell transplant – and their families, too."

Gunner has Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I Hurler Syndrome - a rare genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body. 

His first symptom was a pushed-out belly button, that was caused by his body storing sugars in his liver and spleen and making them swollen. 

He faced several more complications and symptoms as his body started storing sugars throughout his organs, bones, and brain too. 

Gunner’s treatment has included enzyme infusions and an earlier stem cell transplant from a donor in Germany that failed.

The second stem cell transplant is aimed at extending his life and giving him a better quality of life. 

Stem cells can produce all essential blood cells, including red and white cells and platelets, and are used to treat a number of diseases. 

For many, they are the patient’s only chance of a cure. 

When a patient needs a stem cell transplant, they will need a donor with a matching tissue type, that can be difficult to find. 

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord following the birth of a baby, and is rich in blood stem cells and needs less matching than stem cells from an adult.

Head of stem cell donation and transplant at NHS Blood and Transplant, Guy Parkes, said: "It’s heart-warming to see Gunner enjoying Christmas with his family and having come so far since his stem cell transplant a year ago.

"Stem cell transplants are only ever possible thanks to the kindness of those who agree to donate - in this case, a mother who donated her baby’s umbilical cord 16 years ago - and we cannot thank those people enough.

"We always need more people to register as potential stem cell donors and always invite more mothers to consider cord donation, too - as Gunner’s story shows, a decision made now could help somebody now or much further down the line. A donation can dramatically improve or even save lives."

For further information on stem cell donation, visit blood.co.uk/stemcells.