A 5-year-old boy has been miraculously cured of sickle cell anemia, which is being hailed as a “medical breakthrough.”
According to CBS News, New Jersey boy Tobi Okunseinde was diagnosed with the disease before his first birthday.
Although sickle cell anemia is generally considered incurable, his parents sought hope. They were given information about curative therapy utilizing chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
The Okunseindes were overjoyed to learn that their younger son, Kwasi, was an optimal donor and agreed to the treatment.
Dr. Stacey Rifkin-Zenenberg, pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, stated, “Forty percent of patients who have sickle cell have available donors for transplant.”
“The younger the patient who is the recipient and the younger the donor is better,” she added.
Sickle cell anemia occurs when the red blood cells in a person’s body are misshapen and prone to stick together or block blood flow, per the Mayo Clinic. It is a genetic disease that usually affects people of African, Mediterranean, or Middle Eastern descent.
The Mayo Clinic also reports that sickle cell anemia has been known to cause a multitude of health complications, including stroke, blindness, gallstones, and organ damage.
The only known preventative measure listed by the Mayo Clinic is genetic counseling for couples planning who may both have the gene and are planning to have a baby.
Despite the prognosis, CBS News reported that Rifkin-Zenberg led Tobi’s transplant in May. He underwent chemotherapy and battled through healing.
Now, Tobi is considered fully cured.
His father, Folu, spoke about his younger son’s ability to help Tobi. He said, “He definitely changed his life. He definitely saved his life.”
“Once we found out about curative therapy, the bone marrow transplant, we knew there was a light at the end of that tunnel,” he added.
Folu said, “Going to kindergarten as just a ‘regular kid’ has just been the most fantastic experience.”
When asked what he would tell other children who have sickle cell anemia, Tobie said, “Don’t be scared.”
