'I thought my healthy boy just had bruises - then we were given the worst news possible'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A “healthy” boy suffering from tiredness and bruises has been diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening blood condition. And now he faces a bone marrow transplant and six weeks of isolation.

Joey Stowell, aged nine, was a normal, “happy” boy according to his father, Brandon Stowell, 30. But he started to become lethargic and pale and was “covered in bruises” in July this year.

The father-of-three said his son was taken to a doctor, who was concerned following an initial check-up. The doctor sent the family on to their local hospital for blood tests – where it was discovered Joey had extremely low haemoglobin, white blood cell and platelet count. READ MORE: She was excited to find out the gender of her baby, but her 20 week scan left her worried After being transferred to the Bristol Children’s Hospital, it was found Joey has aplastic anaemia, a rare and serious condition also known as bone marrow failure, which affects around 30 to 40 children each year, according to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) – and he now urgently requires a bone marrow transplant.

After Joey’s two sisters, Florence, eight, and Ellie-May, 13, had a blood test which revealed they were not a match for the transplant, the family waited for an external donor to become available and they are now preparing for the operation which is scheduled for the end of the month and involves Joey being isolated for a minimum of six weeks.