The family of a young Everton fan who was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disorder just a week before his first birthday are celebrating after he received a life-saving stem cell transplant.
Ronnie, now 18 months old, captured hearts across Merseyside when Everton highlighted his battle with aplastic anaemia during the Merseyside derby in April. The rare condition prevents the bone marrow from producing enough new blood cells and can be fatal without treatment.
The club’s Register4Ronnie campaign, launched in partnership with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, encouraged supporters to join the stem cell donor register. The appeal has since resulted in 1,000 new donor applicants.
Now, following months of uncertainty, Ronnie is on the road to recovery after receiving a perfect stem cell match from an American donor in his 20s.
His mum, Laura, described the emotional journey the family endured while searching for a suitable donor.
Laura said:
“The reaction from Everton and Liverpool fans at the derby was incredible and as a result of raising awareness we were so confident we’d get a 10 out of 10 match.
“Sadly, around May, we were told Ronnie’s genetics meant that was unlikely to be the case and their next best option was a 9 out of 10 match, which changed the course of his treatment and would have meant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.”
When no suitable partial match could be found, doctors began preparing an alternative treatment that would manage Ronnie’s condition rather than cure it.
However, just as the family prepared for immunotherapy, they received the news they had desperately hoped for.
Laura recalled:
“We were in isolation the night before therapy when the consultant came in and cancelled his treatment because, from nowhere, they’d found a 10 out of 10 match.
“Even now I’m getting emotional about it. To go from thinking we’d get a match to not, to not being able to do the transplant, then a 10 out of 10 coming out of nowhere was an emotional rollercoaster.
“We found out in mid-June and Ronnie was booked in for transplant on 4 August… and he absolutely smashed it!”
Ronnie underwent his stem cell transplant on 4 August and made remarkable progress, exceeding doctors’ expectations during his recovery.
Despite being warned he could face weeks of illness, require a feeding tube and lose his hair, Ronnie was back on his feet within four weeks.
Laura said:
“He’s absolutely smashed it, and the good news is he’s now 100% at donor cells and is producing his own cells.
“He was discharged after ringing the bell on 4 September – and obviously he had to have his Everton kit on for that day – but we’re still in isolation until next year because Ronnie is still a high-risk, vulnerable person.”
After spending much of the year in hospital, the family have finally been able to enjoy some precious time together at home.
Laura added:
“It’s the little things that you appreciate, like as soon as we got home we took him for a walk, and that was emotional because he hadn’t stepped out of that hospital room in Manchester for four weeks.”
Although Ronnie is making encouraging progress and no longer needs blood or platelet transfusions, his recovery continues to require strict precautions.
His eight-year-old brother, Regan, has also had to adapt to the restrictions, with the family unable to enjoy many everyday activities because of the risk of infection.
Laura explained:
“It’s still hard because he’s at the age now where I want to take him to the zoo, to soft play or to swimming, but he can’t do all those things yet.
“The grandparents haven’t been allowed to see Ronnie in God knows how long, and Christmas is going to be different this year for us. Friends and family won’t be allowed to see Ronnie and he won’t be able to go and see Santa.
“His development has also been affected because he’s not been socialising with other kids… but we know he will get there.”
The family are now hoping Ronnie’s story will encourage more young people to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell register and potentially save another person’s life.
Laura praised the charity for its continued support throughout Ronnie’s treatment.
She said:
“I’d never heard of stem cell transplant and I’m ashamed to say it has taken my little boy to need someone to save his life to realise how important it is for people to join the register.
“When we first started the Register4Ronnie campaign, we didn’t realise it would take off as much as it did.
“But Anthony Nolan have been there for us every day. On the day of his transplant, we got a message wishing Ronnie well, and even to this day we still get their messages.”
Anthony Nolan is encouraging people aged 16 to 30 to register as potential stem cell donors, particularly young men, who currently account for just 14 per cent of its register but more than half of those selected to donate.
Rowena Bentley, Head of Programme and Community Recruitment at Anthony Nolan, welcomed the positive news about Ronnie’s recovery.
She said:
“We’re so pleased to hear that Ronnie is doing well following his transplant.
“Every day, Anthony Nolan is able to offer four people a second chance at life because a stranger has chosen to join the stem cell register.
“Ronnie’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing difference one person can make, and the support shown by Everton fans in April reflects the incredible spirit of the club and the city of Liverpool.
“If you’re aged 16–30 and haven’t joined the stem cell register yet, please consider taking that step today.
“It only takes a few minutes, a cheek swab and posting an envelope back to us, but it could give someone a second chance at life.”
For Ronnie and his family, the journey is far from over, but the successful transplant represents a life-changing milestone and offers renewed hope for the future.
To find out more about the Register4Ronnie campaign or join the stem cell donor register, visit the website.
Those unable to join the register can also donate to Anthony Nolan to support its life-saving work here.
