A NORTHSIDE family is backing a charity’s appeal to raise vital funds after it saved their son’s life.
Now 16, Tim Coyne, from Sutton, was diagnosed with Chronic Granulomatous Disorder – also known as CGD – a rare immune disorder, just before his fourth birthday.
CGD is a life-threatening, life-limiting illness where sufferers can’t fight bacterial or fungal infections effectively.
They have a faulty bone marrow gene, which means that some of their white blood cells don’t work properly.
In 2007, Tim stayed for approximately four months at the Children’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, known as the ‘Bubble Unit’, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK.
Without the pioneering work of medics there, his illness would have left him on constant medication, with his life ultimately cut short.
The unit is one of only two specialised centres in the UK, and the only ‘centre for excellence’ in Europe.
The only treatment for CGD is a bone marrow transplant, which, if successful, means patients can go on to lead normal lives – free of medication. At the time, Tim was only the 17th person in the world to have the treatment, and had to spend some time in an isolated ‘Bubble’ which protected him from infection.
His mum, Joan, described the experience as a “terrifying” time.
“When he went into the ‘Bubble Unit’ at Newcastle, he was one of the lucky ones,” she said.
“He got through everything so well.
He’s always loved music and when he was there we used to play him music all the time so he never felt alone.
“I really think that helped him through, although he was always so strong and positive anyway.