Typing campaign

Baby Gloria urgently needs a stem cell donor

Aunt Katharina (left) was allowed to visit Gloria and her mother in the clinic as an exception.

(Bild: zVg)

Leutasch in Tyrol sticks together and starts a typing campaign with the "Geben für Leben" association for the three-month-old baby, who currently has to live practically completely isolated in the Innsbruck children's hospital.

Gloria was only able to spend a few days of her young life surrounded by her parents and brother. Soon after her birth on February 2, the baby was diagnosed with the rare condition SCID: severe combined immunodeficiency.

Gloria lacks vital immune cells to fight infections and diseases. The only effective treatment is a stem cell transplant.

Only one parent is allowed to stay with her at a time, visits are not possible.

 Katharina „Kethe“ Ganzer, Tante von Gloria

Only one parent with Gloria
Since the diagnosis, the child, who was born in East Tyrol, has had to live in almost complete isolation in the pediatric oncology ward at the Innsbruck clinic. "Only one parent is allowed to stay with her at a time, visits are not possible," explains Katharina "Kethe" Ganzer from Leutasch, Gloria's aunt. Together with the municipality of Leutasch and supported by the Kulturhaus Ganghofermuseum, she has launched a typing campaign for stem cell donors. An internal family screening was negative. The "Geben für Leben" association is also on board.

May 18 at the Kulturhaus Ganghofermuseum
The Kulturhaus Ganghofermuseum provides the premises for the typing. "That goes without saying for us," emphasizes Kulturhaus director Robert Krug. The typing campaign will take place on Saturday, May 18 between 2 and 4 pm. All 17 to 45-year-olds from the region are invited to take part. During typing, a cheek swab will be taken to find out whether someone is suitable as a stem cell donor. Participants will be informed of all the details, registration is not necessary.

International database
Incidentally, those who are ultimately not suitable as donors for Gloria are registered in an international database via "Give for Life". This is because they may be able to help other people affected.