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Thalassemia can also give birth to healthy babies
A couple in the Philippines gave birth to a baby boy named Alab. However, it was soon discovered that he was suffering from Thalassemia – a severe disease in which a person cannot produce any functional alpha globulin that is responsible for carrying oxygen around the body. Usually, most babies will die from this disease due to severe anaemia and hypoxia in their mother's womb, or shortly after birth. Miraculously, This baby boy, Alab, survived.
However, he had to undergo a blood transfusion every 2-3 weeks. He is the first and only survivor of this disease in the Philippines and one of the few rare cases reported worldwide. In an effort to find help for Alab and to lessen his suffering, the parents came to Hope Fertility & PGT Center - Reproductive Medicine and Embryo Genetic Testing. Here they discussed various options and decided that with the help of PGT-M technology screening, they would try to have another child that could help the older brother to obtain the needed cord blood and stem cells to help alleviate his condition. The couple created embryos, had them screened with PGT-M technology and clinic know-how and a year later Alab had a little sister who would be able to help him live a happier and healthier life.
Follow Alab’s journey and progress at:https://www.facebook.com/alabcaringal/
This is the story of a little boy named Alexander Benedict P. Caringal or Alab for short. He has been diagnosed to have Alpha Thalassemia Major or 4-Gene Deletion Alpha Thalassemia. He was born premature at 29 weeks with a failing heart, for which he stayed in the Neonatal ICU for 3 and a half months.
Alab’s story is one for the books. He miraculously defied insurmountable odds. He is the 1st and only survivor of this condition in the Philippines and is amongst the very very few cases reported worldwide.
His journey has been an inspiration and ray of hope to many people, especially to families who have been going through similar situations.
Alab has been developing well, with no current medical problems, but requires lifetime blood transfusions every 3 weeks to keep his hemoglobin within normal range. The only known and acceptable cure to Alpha Thalassemia Major is a Bone Marrow Transplant, which he will be undergoing in the near future. This is his only chance to rid him of the blood transfusions and its future complications.