{
  "id": 9724746,
  "title": "Two-year-old with rare immune disorder saved by mother's bone marrow transplant in Abu Dhabi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/two-year-old-with-rare-immune-disorder-saved-by-mothers-bone-marrow",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-25T07:12:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/two-year-old-with-rare-immune-disorder-saved-by-mothers-bone-marrow-transplant-in-abu-dhabi-1.500687381"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A two-year-old boy from Abu Dhabi, Kai, is set to return home after receiving a life-saving bone marrow transplant aimed at treating his rare immune disorder. Kai was born with Hyper-IgM Syndrome, a genetic condition that impairs the body's ability to produce antibodies, leaving him highly susceptible to infections. His condition grew so severe that he required intensive care, respiratory support, and treatment for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), both of which target the blood and lungs of immunocompromised individuals.\n\nDespite ongoing treatment with monthly immunoglobulin replacement therapy, Kai's immune system did not recover sufficiently, leading to continuous blood and platelet transfusions that put him at further risk of serious infections. Recognizing the urgency of Kai's situation, medical professionals at Yas Clinic Khalifa City, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC), opted for an urgent bone marrow transplant. Kai's mother emerged as his haploidentical, or half-matched, donor, a crucial match in cases where a fully compatible donor is unavailable.\n\nThe transplant procedure was successfully executed as part of the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Program. Kai's condition has shown marked improvement, with no signs of active infection and the donor cells beginning to contribute effectively to his immune system. Dr. Mansi, a Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant specialist, emphasized the critical nature of the intervention, stating, \"His mother was identified as a half-matched donor, and our multidisciplinary teams worked rapidly to prepare him for the procedure. The transplant was successful, and the donor cells have started functioning. Kai currently has no active infection and is clinically stable, preparing to return home with his family.\" Hyper-IgM Syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that significantly lowers the body's antibody production, making affected children particularly vulnerable to severe and recurring infections. For eligible patients like Kai, a bone marrow transplant offers a potential cure by establishing a new immune system derived from the donor, thereby alleviating the underlying immune deficiencies.",
  "summary": "A two-year-old boy with a rare inherited immune disorder is preparing to return home after receiving an urgent bone marrow transplant in Abu Dhabi, with his mother becoming his donor. Kai was diagnosed with Hyper-IgM Syndrome early in life after suffering severe and repeated infections. His condition became so serious that he was admitted to intensive care and required respiratory support. He…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}