Mother of thalassemia patient thanks Malaysians for

responding to appeal for rare blood type

NATION

Wednesday, 1 Aug 2018 10:01 PM MYT

Thalassemia patient Neowell Vann Houtton could do his criticial transfusion after a two-day nationwide appeal
for O Positive blood donors.

KOTA KINABALU: After a one-and-a-half-month wait, major thalassemia patient Neowell Vann
Houtton was able to receive his transfusion after a two-day nationwide appeal for O Positive
blood donors.

The boy received his transfusion on Wednesday afternoon (Aug 1) at the Women and Children’s
Likas Hospital here.
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Neowell received two bags that matched his rare blood type of O Positive R1R1 JKA after
developing a reaction with the first transfusion on Tuesday (July 31).

His mother Selly Onong praised the hospital staff for calming the rashes immediately with
medication.

“I am absolutely overwhelmed and grateful to the press and all the donors for responding so
quickly to my appeal.

"Neowell needs monthly blood transfusions for the rest of his life and I have been going in and out
of the public hospitals in Kota Kinabalu every month for over a decade.

“The directors, doctors and nurses have always given the best possible care and treatment for my
son and I have faith in our medical services in Malaysia.

"Once in a while, through no fault of theirs, the blood bank has no blood match and then it
becomes urgent.

“The last time I appealed like this was in 2013 and this is my fifth time over the past 12 years. I love
my son and I will do anything for him,” Selly related.
Selly said that she will never know the source of blood received by Neowell, and can only pray and
hope that O Positive donors will ask their hospitals or doctors to determine if they are O Positive
R1R1 JKA.

“If you are of this blood type, Neowell needs you, and I would like you to be on my emergency
database of donors, so please do get in touch with me on 0128676351,” she said in a statement.

Selly also appealed to Malaysians to make blood donation a part of their civic duty.

“As a mother of a child who needs blood transfusions from the blood bank every month I know
only too well the fear and trauma my family goes through when the blood bank is dry.

“It takes a few minutes to donate and even if you donate once a year, someone out there may be
saved, because you never know when it’s you or someone you love who may need to rely on the
blood of a total stranger from a bank,” said Selly.
TAGS / KEYWORDS:

Blood Donation , Blood Bank , Thalassemia , Neowell Vann Houtton , Selly Onong

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