Queensland boy Mateoh Eggleton’s bone marrow transplant left on tarmac at US airport

How a ridiculous airport bungle could have cost this Aussie boy, 6, his life after his bone marrow donation was left on the TARMAC: ‘I just don’t understand how something like this could happen’

  • Mateoh Eggleton, six, needs bone marrow transplant
  • Donor was found in US
  • The transplant was left on tarmac in US 

A six-year-old Australian boy suffering from a genetic disorder was at risk of losing his life after his bone marrow transplant was mistakenly left on the tarmac at a US airport.

Mateoh Eggleton was diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease in 2019, meaning his white blood cells were unable to fight off certain types of bacteria.

The little boy underwent a transplant for the disease which was successful but the treatment resulted in him being diagnosed with a rare but more severe condition known as haemolytic uraemic syndrome – which can lead to kidney failure.

His mother Shalyn Eggleton desperately tried to find a match for a bone marrow transplant for Mateoh and eventually came across a donor in the US.

The transplant was supposed to be loaded onto a plane leaving the US for Brisbane but Ms Eggleton was told by Queensland Children’s Hospital staff that it never arrived.

Shalyn Eggleton is pictured with her son Mateoh. Mateoh requires an urgent bone marrow transplant. The transplant was mistakenly left at a tarmac in the US

‘We haven’t received any reasons why (this happened), nothing pretty much,’ she told The Today Show on Thursday morning.

‘I’m going to be doing all that digging myself because it’s unacceptable. He’s fought three-and-a-half-years as it is for his life and for someone to be so neglectful and naive when it comes to such a thing like this.

‘This is what he’s been waiting for and someone’s just left it behind.’

The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) is responsible for arranging and transporting bone marrow and blood stem cell donations for patients in need of a transplant in Australia.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Children’s Hospital told Daily Mail Australia the transplant is now in transit to Australia.

‘Mateoh has been a long-term patient at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and his care team understands and shares the family’s disappointment at this unforeseen delay in the delivery of his donor cells,’ they said.

‘Mateoh’s donor cells are currently in transit to Australia and their delayed arrival will not adversely impact Mateoh’s care. 

‘At all times our priority has been ensuring the donation remains viable so Mateoh’s bone marrow transplant can safely proceed.’

The mother said the transplant was Mateoh’s last chance, with the six-year-old previously undergoing gruelling chemotherapy and blood transfusions to keep him alive.

The family had found a previous match in Britain but they decided to decline the transplant – leaving Mateoh and his mother running out of options.

The six-year-old had undergone six weeks of treatment in preparation for the transplant which has now been delayed.

The mother said the transplant was Mateoh's last chance, with the six-year-old previously undergoing gruelling chemotherapy and blood transfusions to keep him alive

The mother said the transplant was Mateoh’s last chance, with the six-year-old previously undergoing gruelling chemotherapy and blood transfusions to keep him alive

Testing will also need to be completed to see if the transplant is still viable, further prolonging the process and putting Mateoh at greater risk.

Ms Eggleton said Mateoh had undergone nine different types of treatment within the past 18 months.

‘Every day it’s either hospital or medication so we’re constantly up at the hospital,’ she said.

‘I just don’t understand how something like this could happen.’

She said Mateoh was due to start conditioning for the transplant next Tuesday.

Ms Eggleton said it was ‘hell’ watching her son struggle.

‘You don’t imagine your kid being sick, not for three-and-a-half-years going through all this, trialling transplants and adult chemotherapy drugs,’ she said.

‘In this world we live in it’s like why won’t anything work on him, it’s frustrating.

‘You’ve got to hold up, it’s part of being a mum.’ 

Ms Eggleton said it was 'hell' watching her son struggle, with daily hospital visits and medication

Ms Eggleton said it was ‘hell’ watching her son struggle, with daily hospital visits and medication

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