LITTLE Kaiya Patel is in a race against time to find a stem cell donor to save her life after bruising on her legs turned out to be cancer.

The five-year-old is battling a rare form of leukaemia and has just two months to find a match.

4 Little Kaiya has a rare type of leukaemia and has just two months to find a bone marrow donor Credit: @ANNU PATEL

But her parents fear they won’t be able to find a donor because none of her family members were a match and due to her Asian ethnicity she has just a 20.5 per cent chance of finding one, compared to 69 per cent for people with white or European heritage, according to charity Anthony Nolan.

Kaiya has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a rare type of blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells.

Around 810 people in the UK are diagnosed with ALL each year.

The disease first appeared as bruises on Kaiya’s legs, and when the family finally got her diagnosis in March this year it was “like a punch in the stomach”.

4 Kaiya was diagnosed with cancer after developing bruises on her legs Credit: @ANNU PATEL

Dad Ruchit Patel, from Northwood in London, said: “Family life was bliss. We’re a really loving family with two girls who adore each other.

“The girls were looking forward to one day being at school together and we were getting ready for our holiday.

“Kaiya had some bruising which we wanted to get checked out before flying.

“We honestly thought it was nothing serious and took Kaiya to hospital so we could fly without worry.

4 Kaiya pictured with her dad Ruchit, mum Annu and sister Annika Credit: @ANNU PATEL

“To be told that Kaiya had leukaemia was like a punch in the stomach.”

Kaiya was taken from Watford General to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she spent four weeks receiving treatment, including chemotherapy.

She is now back at home while her parents anxiously wait to find a bone marrow donor.

Once a lively little girl who loved swimming, gymnastics and art, Kaiya is now in and out of doctors’ appointments.

4 None of Kaiya's family are a match as a stem cell donor Credit: @ANNU PATEL

Ruchit, 37, says: “Kaiya holds her beads of courage, each bead represents a procedure or something she has had to endure.

“She is already half way through her second string and we hope she can look back at this and be proud of how much she has had to go through.

“The drugs and treatment has taken a significant impact, and she is very tired – but she is coping with it all and continues to look after her little sister.

“We’re so proud of her.”

Ruchit and his family are asking people to join the stem cell donation register at the Anthony Nolan charity.

A TYPE OF CANCER THAT BEGINS IN WHITE BLOOD CELLS Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer. It starts from young white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the soft inner part of the bones, where new blood cells are made. It is not known what causes the disease. About 810 people in the UK are diagnosed with ALL each year. It is most often diagnosed in children, teenagers and young adults. The age group with the highest incidence is young children aged 0 - 4 years. Symptoms:

Most symptoms are non-specific and vague, but can include: weakness

fatigue

fever

frequent infections

bruising or bleeding easily

weight loss

swollen lymph nodes

pain in the bones or joints

shortness of breath

pale skin

felling full in your abdomen Treatment:

The main treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is chemotherapy. You might also have other treatments including a targeted cancer drug or steroids. Survival rates are generally high, about 70 per cent of people diagnosed survive for five years or more after they are diagnosed. But survival rates depend heavily on age, fitness, type of cancer and how early it is diagnosed. Source: Cancer Research UK

Rebecca Pritchard, head of register development at Anthony Nolan said: “Kaiya is an inspirational little girl who, despite everything she is going through is still there being a great big sister to Annika.

“Somewhere out there, there is a potential lifesaver who could help give her a second chance of life. A second chance to be at the same school as her little sister.

“If you’re aged 16-30 you can join the register online and we’ll send you a cheek swab in the post.

“If you’re found to be a match for a patient you could donate your stem cells and give hope to families like Kaiya’s.”

MORE ON LEUKAEMIA SHOCK DIAGNOSIS I went blind overnight after leukaemia turned blood to 'porridge' Exclusive WARNING SIGN Docs thought my boy had sickness bug but 'virus' turned out to be blood cancer DIY DRUGS Thousands of cancer patients to get treated at home to avoid hospital Covid risk RACE AGAINST TIME Mum begs for stem cell donors as daughter, 1, given 3 WEEKS to live ‘SHE’S A WARRIOR’ Tragedy as mom who survived leukemia and gave birth to twins dies SAVE STAN! Parents' £500k bid to get pioneering treatment for boy, 2, with incurable cancer Exclusive CRUEL TREATMENT My girl, 5, had 800 rounds of chemo & was bullied for 'looking like a boy' 'SO STRONG' Brave boy, 2, defies the odds by beating coronavirus while battling leukaemia WARNING SIGNS Mum, 22, died of cancer a WEEK after seeing her GP about strange bruises UNBREAKABLE BOND Heartbreaking photo of twins kissing as one is diagnosed with cancer

Anthony Nolan has launched a new campaign, Be A Lifesaver, to raise awareness of stem cell donation and to encourage anyone aged 16-30 to join the register.

To find out more visit the Anthony Nolan website here.

You can follow Kaiya’s journey on her Be Kaiya's Donor Facebook page or using the hashtag #CureKaiya on Twitter and Instagram.

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