Boy battling leukaemia saved by frozen umbilical cord

A young boy battling leukaemia was saved by his toddler brother after their parents made a crucial decision to freeze the younger child’s umbilical cord.

Joshua Nicholson’s family was given the devastating diagnosis in August 2014 when he was just five-years-old.

The youngster recovered following treatment but relapsed and became seriously ill again in January.

Joshua’s best chance of survival was a bone marrow transplant – and his 18-month-old brother Luke came to his rescue.

Luke’s bone marrow was a perfect match and his frozen umbilical cord – containing stem cells in his blood – was also used to fight the cancer, the Birmingham Mail reports.

It was possible thanks to mum Victoria and dad Matthew’s decision to freeze Luke’s umbilical cord after his birth.

After undergoing treatment, both Joshua, now aged eight, and Luke are doing well.

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