A THREE-year-old from Harlow who received a lifesaving stem-cell transplant when she was just eight months old is competing as part of blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan’s team at the Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Newport, South Wales.

Maddison Bradshaw is returning to compete for Team Anthony Nolan, after last year taking home a bronze in the bean bag archery in 2018.

The Westfield British Transplant Games is an annual event in which people who have received lifesaving stem cell or organ transplants take part in a series of Olympic-style events. It’s taking place from Thursday 25 July – Sunday 28 July.

Maddison was taken to A&E when she was just three months old, after her parents noticed unusual bruising on her stomach. A blood test that found severely depleted red and white blood cells as well as her platelets were non-existent.

After an urgent blood and platelet transfusion, Maddie was transported by blue light ambulance to Great Ormond Street Hospital. The initial test the doctors performed was a bone marrow aspirate, a procedure to determine the cause of Maddie’s low blood results. The doctors first thought it could have been leukaemia, but she was later given the diagnosis of Congenital Bone Marrow Failure – a genetic mutation which stops the bone marrow stops from producing new cells.

Maddie’s family were told she would need to have a stem cell transplant, which is also known as a bone marrow transplant.

Maddie’s mother Ashleigh recalls: “After worrying so much that Maddie had cancer, being told that this wasn’t the case, and a bone marrow transplant would cure her did give us some relief. This was because coincidentally Dan’s brother (Maddie’s uncle) had already had a successful bone marrow transplant in 2007, nine years before, for what we now know was the same condition.

“However, after the initial relief comes the fear of what is to come. Chemotherapy is both miraculous and terrifying, the thought of any loved one having chemotherapy is soul destroying, your three-month-old baby feels world ending.”

Due to Maddie being an only child, the sibling donor route was not one that was available to her. Her family faced further anguish when the first three matching donors found for Maddie were unable to donate.

Anthony Nolan was able to find a fourth matching donor for Maddison, and she had a bone marrow transplant when she was eight months old.

Ashleigh said: “Because Maddie had her transplant at eight months old it has enabled us to have a life together. I don’t want to even imagine what life would have been like without her as she is such a character and everybody who meets her absolutely adores her.

“Prior to her transplant the common cold was genuinely life threating, meaning Maddison didn’t go to play groups, couldn’t attend family gatherings and even walks in the park could be dangerous. After her transplant Maddie is a normal little girl, she runs, climbs, jumps, laughs, cries and screams like every other three-year-old! The transplant gave our daughter a normal full and active life.”

She continued: “Maddie is a normal little bundle of joy. She no longer takes any medication and, in many ways, has no idea she was ever sick. Right from the off, after her transplant, we made sure to never hold her back. If most kids used a cup, Maddie was going to use one; we started swimming, football, dancing, baby groups and recently trampolining. The result is a little girl with very little fear and full of big ideas!”

Speaking of Anthony Nolan Ashleigh said: “Anthony Nolan helped find a donor for Maddison and coordinated the whole process of getting that person to donate for us. Anthony Nolan has been a huge support for us before, during and after the transplant.

“Without our donor, we wouldn’t be able to be here today, and we’d like to say thank you to them for everything they’ve done.”

Ashleigh continued: “Maddie had such a great time at the Transplant Games last year, she still talks about her “sports day” and asks when she can go again.

“The entire time we were there she just thought she was playing games so to win a bronze medal was a bonus; even now she likes to wear it. For us seeing our little girl, who at that point has only been walking for six months take part let alone win a medal was very emotional; I know we both had a few tears.”

Ashleigh added: “She is small for her age and due to a postal mix up had a kit far too big for her, it was incredibly cute, but she loved every second and was watched all the way by two very proud parents, an aunt and grandparents.”

Speaking of how Maddie feels in the lead up to the event, Ashleigh said: “Maddie can’t wait to be doing “sports day” again and has been asking for the past month when we are going. Maddie’s really looking forward to getting the attention from her other team members and hearing people cheer her on.”

Tom Bishop, Senior Patient Services and Information Manager at Anthony Nolan, said: “We are delighted to bring Team Anthony Nolan to the Westfield Health British Transplant Games for the fifth year and are proud of our diverse range of athletes. Maddie is one of the youngest athletes to take part and everyone fell in love with her last year, so Team Anthony Nolan are delighted she’s returning.

“The Games are a testament to the incredible spirit and determination of people who have gone through such a difficult and often complicated recovery. This event demonstrates that many stem cell transplant recipients like Maddie can go on to live rich, healthy and fulfilling lives.”

To find out more about Anthony Nolan, or to join the stem cell register, visit www.anthonynolan.org