A Newry schoolboy who has spent the last two years battling leukaemia has officially signaled the end of his treatment in an emotional ringing of the bell at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Daniel Greer (16) received the devastating diagnosis back in 2022. Since then, Daniel has undergone a tumultuous two years that has seen his young body put through many a test and grueling procedure.
An extensive appeal in 2022 for a rare bone marrow doner led to a match being found with a German donor and the Abbey Christian Brothers’ School student received his first life-saving stem cell transplant.
In June 2023, all signs pointed to the positive with scans showing that Daniel had no traces of active cancer in his body.
However, in September of the same year he and his family received further devastating news when blood tests showed that the leukaemia had returned.
Daniel had to undergo more chemotherapy in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Then in January 2024, Daniel was flown to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital where he underwent a second – and riskier – stem cell transplant using donated stems from umbilical cord blood.
Regrettably, this cord transplant also failed.
The young fighter endured a third transplant the following month with umbilical cord blood from Germany and fingers across the country were crossed.
This third treatment proved to be incredibly difficult with Daniel suffering subsequent complications and emergency surgery that saw him moved to a high dependency ward in early March.
Now, marking exactly four months in hospital, Daniel has shared the incredible news that he has finished with cancer treatment by ringing the bell at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Throughout his journey, updates have been shared through the ‘Do it for Daniel’ Facebook page (DIFD) which had been set up with the initial intent of finding a donor.
A post which accompanied the video of Daniel’s tear-filled bell ringing said: “Some brilliant news to share – last week Daniel rang the bell at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to mark what is hopefully the end of his cancer treatment!
“He left home shortly after Christmas to travel to England for a lifesaving stem cell transplant. The first one didn’t work sadly, but the second seems to be doing the trick nicely and meant he was well enough to go home on the boat to Newry.
“After exactly four long months in hospital, undergoing grueling treatment and very painful complications, he is a very happy boy to be allowed to continue his recovery at home.
“But we are forever indebted to the wonderful staff who treated him:
– The amazing consultant Prof Rob Wynn who basically saved Daniel’s life against incredible odds.
– His team of doctors – Ramya, Sheree, Omima, Denise, Nate, Zeeshan, to name a few.
– Our wonderful specialist bone marrow transplant nurse Laura Taylor who looked after Daniel with such dedication and care.
– All the nurses on ward 84b (bone marrow transplant unit) and ward 79.
– All the health professionals who helped to get Daniel back onto his feet like physiotherapist Ali, and dieticians Nik and Bec.
“Thank you also to all the DIFD supporters who have been praying for this outcome – it truly is miraculous that he survived this battle.
“Hopefully his recovery will continue at pace now he is home with his family and his beloved cats.
“We are so grateful for all the support, prayers and good wishes and we’re delighted to have him home safe.”
You can view the video of Daniel ringing the bell at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital here.
