Bone marrow donor plea for Bridgnorth boy with rare condition

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Gunner's mother described him as a "hero"

The parents of a baby boy with a "devastating" rare genetic condition are trying to find a bone marrow donor.

Gunner, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire has Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS Type 1) which means he cannot break down his body's natural sugars.

There are no matches in his family nor on the UK register.

To give the best chance of the treatment working, the transplant needs to be performed before Gunner's second birthday in October.

Gunner's mother, Holly said: "It's just a constant rollercoaster of emotions, we're trying to focus on the positives rather than the statistics."

He was first diagnosed with MPS in March after struggling with his breathing and an umbilical hernia.

Holly said the diagnoses were "devastating" but they are trying to accept the "new normal".

Gunner's four-year-old sister Daisy was not a match

He is being treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he has weekly enzyme infusions.

"He looks fine externally, but internally it [MPS Type 1] could potentially block his vital organs, damage his brain," she said.

Gunner's parents and sister Daisy, four, all had blood tests the week after his diagnosis but none were a match.