A Northern Ireland mother is racing against time to save her seven-year-old son, Leyton Anderson, who is battling two rare blood disorders and a complex neurological condition.
The ordeal began in August 2023 when Leyton, then just four years old, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. His mother, Samantha Herron of Newtownards, noticed early warning signs, including persistent sniffles, weight loss, and bruises that took longer to fade than usual. After demanding blood tests at a local A&E, the devastating diagnosis was confirmed, and Leyton was placed on a grueling course of chemotherapy.
Despite two rounds of treatment, the leukaemia proved persistent, necessitating a bone marrow transplant in December 2023. When that procedure failed, Samantha stepped in as a donor for a second transplant, which successfully put Leyton into remission by January 2024. However, the victory was short-lived. During his recovery, Leyton suffered a severe seizure, leading to a diagnosis of HHV6 encephalitis—a cold sore virus that had reached his nervous system.
The infection acted as a “reset button” on the young boy’s development. “He had to re-learn how to walk, talk, and eat,” Samantha explained. Further testing later revealed that Leyton was also suffering from a form of severe epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
As the family focused on his neurological struggles, recent samples revealed a new, aggressive blood disease: myelodysplastic syndrome, accompanied by a rare genetic mutation known as monosomy 7. Doctors have warned that a third bone marrow transplant—typically the standard path for such a diagnosis—would now be fatal due to the toxicity levels caused by his extensive prior medication and fragile state.
While doctors in Belfast have proposed monthly infusions to manage the disease, Samantha describes this as a “holding pattern” that does not offer a cure. “They said the disease will eventually take him,” she told Belfast Live. “You’re basically watching this process of him dying, because you know what’s going to happen in the end.”
Refusing to accept this prognosis, Samantha has launched an urgent campaign to seek alternative, innovative cellular therapies internationally. She is currently researching and reaching out to specialized medical centers in Germany, Barcelona, and the United States, hoping for treatments that might offer her son a chance at life without the immediate risks of a transplant.
“Leyton is a very energetic and happy boy. He’s such a pure soul,” Samantha said. “I need to give him a chance.”
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of £250,000 to cover the costs of overseas medical consultations and potential treatment. With time of the essence, the community is being urged to support the “Love 4 Leyton” fundraiser to help provide the life-saving care he needs.
To donate to the fundraiser for Leyton, click here.
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