Lincoln Toddler's Cancer Journey Fuels Vital Stem Cell Donor Initiative
Bea Breakell, a vibrant three-year-old girl from Lincoln, lives with Down's Syndrome and a passion for arts and crafts. In 2024, her parents noticed alarming symptoms—a high fever and purple, mottled skin—prompting an urgent trip to A&E. Initially suspected to be sepsis or meningitis, further tests revealed a devastating diagnosis in November 2024: acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL), a form of blood cancer.
Her father, Reece, described the moment as "horrendous" and "unfair," noting that Bea was only two years old at diagnosis. "It didn't seem right that she should have to deal with the pain, upset and confusion of cancer and treatment," he said. "She's strong and brave, but at that age she shouldn't have to be."
Challenging Treatment and Family Resilience
The following months were grueling for the young family. Bea's treatment involved severe complications, including an induced coma, extended stays in intensive care, and persistent infections. Reece reflected on the emotional toll: "Cancer literally rips your child away from you. She's full of beans, cheek and sass, but there were weeks where we didn't even see her smile. She loves drawing and painting, but she just wasn't interested anymore. There were a few times that we thought we had lost her."
Thankfully, after extensive medical care, Bea is now doing much better, though she continues with chemotherapy. A significant relief for her parents is that she likely will not require a stem cell transplant—a common last hope for many blood cancer patients. This is particularly fortunate, as only one in three patients find a match within their family, and Bea has no siblings, making her odds very low.
Raising Awareness for Stem Cell Donation
Despite their ordeal, Bea's family has turned their experience into a force for good. They are collaborating with the blood cancer charity DKMS to encourage more people to register as potential stem cell donors. In the UK, just seven percent of the eligible population is signed up, leaving around 2,000 patients waiting for a match at any given time.
Reece emphasized the urgency: "Until you're in that position, you don't think it'll ever happen to you. On the ward we met lots of kids going through treatment. For some of them, a transplant was their last option, and it was just heart-breaking to see them waiting to find a matching donor."
Community Event to Boost Donor Registrations
To support those in need, Reece is organizing a CrossFit competition in Lincoln. On Sunday, February 22, teams from gyms across the East Midlands will compete at CrossFit Witham Lincoln. From 10am to 3pm, participants, supporters, and the public can register as stem cell donors by completing a brief health questionnaire and three painless cheek swabs—a process taking only minutes.
Bronagh Hughes, a DKMS spokesperson, praised the family's efforts: "Bea has had a difficult start in life, but it's amazing to see how her family are using their experience to spread awareness of the stem cell donor register. For many patients, the right person joining the register could give them their life back."
Reece added: "When a child has cancer, everyone wants to know what they can do to help, and signing up to register is such an easy way to do it. It takes a few minutes, and you could be the one to give a patient their life back. We thankfully don't need a match for Bea, but there are many other children in her position who need a donor."
DKMS will assist with registrations at the event and offers swab kits via their website for those unable to attend. This initiative highlights the power of community action in combating blood cancer and saving lives.
