[diane w]

Charlotte went into Colchester hospital on December 6th 2006 to have her tonsils out. During the operation she lost a lot of blood leading to a blood transfusion. This is when we found out she had Aplastic Anemia. Her heamoglobin was 6.4, white blood count of 1.7, platelets 4 and neutraphils 0.4. She then had a bone marrow test done and the results came back showing it was between 10-15% cells.

She had platelet and blood transfusions twice every week to start with and we was transferred to a specialist in London and was told she would need a bone marrow transplant as they had never seen a recovery from this. By February 2007, she was needing less blood and platelet transfusions. She undertook all the necessary tests and treatment to prepare for a bone marrow transplant on February 29th 2007. Luckily she had her sister Danielle for a perfect match. In preparation for the bone marrow transplant she underwent another bone marrow test a few weeks before. The results came back at 20-25% cells, showing an improvement from December therefore they decided to wait 4 weeks before they would decide whether the transplant should go ahead.

Charlotte was monitered closely over the next few weeks with no transfusions needed her counts were holding steady. After having months off school and no leisure activities, normal life starting to take place again.

Here we are now, October 27th 2007 and Charlotte has now got heamoglobin 13.2, neutraphils 2.65, platelets 84 and white blood cells 4.9 after no treatment. Shes now left school and at college with a normal life, back playing football. We know this could still change and she is having blood tests every 6 weeks and still being monitored at London University College Hospital. After the worst 10 months of our lives, things are looking better every day. If you would like to ask any questions or want to know more then don't hesitate to ask. Never give up hope!