A powerful bond between two Christchurch sisters is going to new heights after one was found to be a potentially life-saving match for her sister’s bone marrow transplant.
Mea Richards, 11, was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in 2022 when she was just 8, a rare blood condition that means that her body doesn’t produce enough new blood cells.
The condition means Mea suffers from regular shortness of breath, is vulnerable to bruising and will bleed at the drop of a hat. She’s also prone to infections because her white blood cells aren’t able to combat them.
In many ways, aplastic anaemia is treated in a similar fashion to cancer and Mea’s care is delivered and monitored by an oncology specialist team.
The diagnosis meant Mea needed a stem cell transplant, and the hunt for a bone marrow donor began.
While awaiting a donor, Mea was given regular blood transfusions to elevate her cell count.
But four years on, despite years of searching through international registries and people turning out for a community donation drive, no complete match has been found.
Now doctors are turning to Mea’s older sister, 16-year-old Stella, who is a partial match.
A partial match to the recipient is typically a parent, sibling or child and is used when a complete match can’t be found, providing a life-saving option for those awaiting a transplant.
Mother Nicole Richards said it was tough to choose to have both daughters go through a procedure at the same time.
“We always had hope that there would be a 100% full match elsewhere,” she said.
“It was kind of a worst-case scenario for us to have both of them going through a procedure at the same time.”
Richards said it was important she did the right thing for both of her children, praising Stella for stepping in to help her younger sister.
“The last couple of weeks has seen just a lot of testing for both of them,” she said.
Stella has her own oncologist and team working with her, separate from Mea’s, to ensure balanced care.
“Having her own team has really helped us both, just so we know that she’s getting what she needs,” Richards said.
“[Stella] sees a psychologist up there as well just to make sure she’s fit and healthy and is understanding of the process.
“That has really helped – just to have her own space where she feels like she can be really open and honest with somebody.”
This next phase of treatment will take place in Auckland at Starship children’s hospital, meaning extended time away from home.
In three weeks, Mea will get a Hickman line, a central line in her chest through which she will receive chemotherapy, medications, and her transplant.
A week after Mea arrives in Auckland, Stella will fly up to Starship, where she will undergo a procedure to help her sister.
“She’ll be sort of tender and quite sore for a day or day or two and then she’ll head home and back to school,” Richards said.
“Hopefully for her, that would be the end of any pain or any ongoing effects.”
Richards said Mea and Stella were typical sisters in many ways, but throughout this journey, Stella had become a “hero” to her younger sister.
“They do fight like any siblings do.
“But they have their wee moments where being the older sister [Stella] will give a wee hug now and then or a wee cuddle.
“You kind of go – oh they do love each other.”
Richards also encouraged people to become a part of the donor registry, which could aid in finding a life-saving match for someone.
“There are so many children, and I imagine there are a lot of adults as well, who don’t have a match.
“For some people, it is life-saving.”
Anyone aged between 18 and 25 can become a donor provided they are in good health and meet the eligibility criteria.
A Givealittle page has also been set up to support the family.