The mum of a Stockton toddler says time is running out to find a match for her son who is battling a rare blood cancer.

Little Mason Arrowsmith, one, was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (JMML) on Christmas Eve last year.

The condition is a rare type of slowly developing blood cancer that occurs in young children.

Although it was discovered at an early stage, doctors say Mason needs a stem cell or bone marrow transplant for the best chance of survival.

In a desperate attempted to help, his mum Katie Jordan will donate her own bone marrow later this month, but a full match is urgently needed.

"The hospital has been absolutely amazing, but unfortunately after searching worldwide there is no match for Mason due to his bone marrow being so rare," Katie said.

"We need to get him to transplant as soon as, the hospital is looking at the end of February, using me as his first donor in the hope that this will help him until we find a better match.

"I would give my life for Mason but unfortunately, I can only donate my bone marrow three times in a lifetime and Im not a full match for him.

"Children with JMML live around 12 months after diagnosis, we need to find mason a better match. Twelve months is not long enough for us to have with our boy, we are living the worst possible nightmare."

As Mason does not have a close enough match within his family - the only potential cure is through a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.

The family has now launched a 'Masons Mission' to encourage people to support blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan in raising urgent funds to add more donors to the stem cells register.

There is currently a blacklog of around 25,000 potential donors due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the charity needs to raise up to an extra 500,000 to add people to the register, from ordering more swab packs to analysing completed swabs in its laboratory.

Any one of the 25,000 people who have applied to join the Anthony Nolan could be a match for Mason or one of the 2,300 patients in the UK, who need a stem cell transplant from a donor each year.

Katie added: "We have set our target at 10,000 which does seem a lot but this would help to cover 250 registrations and kits and allow us to continue our search for my baby."

Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan said: "Were doing all we can to find a stem cell donor to give Mason a second chance of life.

"A perfect storm of the coronavirus pandemic, and a surge of 40,000 incredible people who have been inspired to join the Anthony Nolan register in the last month by patients, like Mason means that were in urgent need.

"The best thing people can do is support Anthony Nolans work financially. By giving anything, together we can add all potential lifesavers to the register, and give patients like Mason hope."

Anthony Nolan recruits people aged 16-30 to the stem cell register as research has shown younger people are more likely to be chosen to donate.

They also carry out ground-breaking research to save more lives and provide information and support to patients after a stem cell transplant, through its clinical nurse specialists and psychologists, who help guide patients through their recovery.

It costs 40 to recruit each potential donor to the register, so Anthony Nolan relies on financial support.

You can support Masons Mission here.

More here:
Family 'living worst nightmare' as they desperately seek donor for tot with rare blood cancer - Teesside Live