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Mary, the mother of ten-month-old Reuben (nicknamed Roo), urgently seeks a stem cell donor after his cancer diagnosis was initially mistaken for less severe conditions like teething and tonsillitis. Following tests revealing that Reuben has acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), doctors informed the family that he needs a stem cell transplant to avoid recurrence post-chemotherapy. Mary’s daughters, aged eight and four, are being tested as potential matches while she appeals for others to join the Anthony Nolan register to increase Reuben's chances of finding an unrelated donor match.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The mother of Reuben, nicknamed "Roo," issued an urgent appeal for a stem cell donor after his cancer symptoms were initially misdiagnosed as teething and tonsillitis. When blood tests at the hospital revealed he had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Mary, Reuben's mother, expressed her shock: "We never thought it would be anything like leukaemia, it blindsided us." The family learned that Reuben needs a stem cell transplant to prevent the cancer from returning after chemotherapy. His older sisters, Lyra and Cleo, are being tested to see if they are potential matches for the transplant. Mary emphasized how this situation has affected their family unit: "Our world fell apart overnight, and our family has been separated ever since." The case highlights the urgent need for stem cell donors, as Reuben's condition is just one instance of many children needing such transplants.
Written for “Stem Cell Treatment For Infant” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The mother of a baby boy whose cancer symptoms were put down to teething and tonsillitis has issued an urgent appeal for a stem cell donor.
asserted
symptoms → put → donor
The couple took Reuben – nicknamed Roo – to the GP, who suspected tonsillitis.
asserted
who → take → tonsillitis
However, follow-up tests resulted in the family being advised to go to hospital, where blood tests showed Reuben had AML.
asserted
Reuben → follow → AML
Mary, who did not want to share her surname, said: “We never thought it would be anything like leukaemia, it blindsided us.
asserted
it → want → us
He’s just a baby.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
“We knew of leukaemia, but it didn’t seem possible for it to be happening to us, we thought it was so rare.
asserted
it → know → us
“Our world fell apart overnight, and our family has been separated ever since.
asserted
family → fall → ?
“My daughters are having to stay with their grandparents right now.
asserted
daughters → have → grandparents
“It still doesn’t feel real.”
asserted
It → feel → ?
When his genetic results came back, the family were told Reuben will need a stem cell transplant, or face the cancer returning after chemotherapy.
asserted
Reuben → come → chemotherapy
During the transplant, patients receive healthy stem cells from a donor, which grow to create new healthy blood cells and platelets.
asserted
which → receive → cells
Reuben’s sisters, Lyra, eight, and Cleo, four, are also being tested to see if they are a match.
asserted
they → test → ?
Mary said: “We feel terrible that his sisters are being tested to see if they’re a match for Roo, they’re so little.
asserted
they → say → Roo
“I am so scared that he might not find a match easily or quickly enough.
uncertain
he → find → match
“The waiting and not knowing if Reuben will find a match is awful.
asserted
Reuben → know → match
“We would do anything to increase his chances.
asserted
We → do → chances
“We wish we could be stem cell donors for him ourselves.
uncertain
we → wish → him
“Since being on the oncology ward, we have spoken to other families who have had or who need stem cell transplants, there are far more children in similar situations than I ever realised.
asserted
I → speak → situations
“We want to make something positive come from our situation by calling on people to join the register, for our little Roo and for anyone else in need.”
asserted
something → want → need
Read More
Charlotte Cunliffe, director of register development at Anthony Nolan, said: “It’s heartbreaking that little Reuben was diagnosed with AML at just 10 months old.
asserted
Reuben → read → AML
“Sadly, we know that blood cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst children, teenagers and young adults in the UK.
asserted
cancer → know → UK
“At Anthony Nolan we give hope to families affected by blood cancers and disorders, but we can’t do it without the selfless donors that sign up to our register.
asserted
that → give → register
“If you are aged 16-30, please sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.
asserted
you → age → register
“You could be the match that someone like baby Reuben needs.”
uncertain
someone → need → Reuben
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