ArkLaTex infant needs bone marrow transplant to survive

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - An ArkLaTex infant battling a rare disorder is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant, but first, doctors need to find a match.

Bryce Boyd's mother says the joy following her boy's birth in September was short-lived, thanks to a life-threatening diagnosis in December.

"It was an exciting time but it didn't last for very long. Went from exciting to scared," said Jasmine Boyd.

At 3 months of age, doctors told Boyd her son has Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

"He has virtually no immune system," Boyd explained. "His white blood cell count is so low and he's on chemo treatment." 

"Right after his last surgery, he wasn't smiling as much. It was worse on me, because I needed to see him smile which is what he always does, to let me know that everything is going to be okay," said Boyd.

Bryce can bleed spontaneously and once the bleeding starts it's hard to stop. As a result, he is currently in critical condition at University Health.

"The bleeding with the eyes, nose, and he has blisters sometimes in his mouth," said Boyd.

While doctor's search for a bone marrow match for Bryce, the only thing keeping him alive is platelet and red blood transfusions. Boyd says she never knows what to expect from moment to moment.

"At that time he may be okay. 10 minutes later, he may have another nosebleed," added Boyd.

In January, Bryce's sister Jaidan was tested to see if she was a match to help her brother. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to help. Now, they're hoping to find a match before it's too late. 

The test consists of a simple swab of the mouth, and it could help save the life of a little boy who refuses to let anything steal his joy.

"Even though he's hurting or not feeling well he's still happy," said Boyd.

It's likely that a match for Bryce will be someone from a similar cultural background. The problem is for minorities the search for a bone marrow match can be a little harder. Minorities currently make up less than 10 % of the national registry list.

You can register in the Bone Marrow Registry at any LifeShare Blood Center or online at https://join.bethematch.org/lifeshare.

Donors MUST:
Be between the ages of 18-44
Be willing to donate to ANYONE that you match
Be in good physical health

Many people who cannot donate blood can still register and be a stem cell donor.

You can also keep up with Bryce's Journey by liking his facebook page Bryce's bubbling bravery.

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