Three Year Old Loses Fight Against Cancer

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Tragic news of the death of Kye Carpenter - Mark

A three year old boy from Southall has died after a long battle with leukaemia.

Brave toddler Kye Carpenter-Mark lost his battle with the disease Saturday afternoon. He died at Great Ormond Street hospital with his devoted parents Laura Carpenter, Kieron Mark, grandparents and close family members by his side.

Laura Carpenter said “Please don't tell me you know how I feel unless you have lost a child too. Please don't tell me my broken heart will heal, because that is just not true. Please don't tell me my son is in a better place. Though it is true; I want him here with me”.

Kye, a fun loving an active little boy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in 2010. Kye immediately began to receive chemotherapy treatment, however months after, further tests confirmed Kye had relapsed; he was now suffering from bone marrow failure.

Kye’s illness first hit national news headlines earlier this year when leading leukaemia charity the ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) hosted several recruitment drives in a bid to find a life saving matched donor. The last event on June 18th 2011 held in Kye’s honour, saw hundreds queue to join the bone marrow, blood and organ registries at the recruitment drive at Global Radio headquarters, Leicester Square. Unfortunately, a genetically match bone marrow donor wasn’t found.

Kye’s condition worsened as he continued to fight infections and fevers whilst receiving regular blood transfusions to sustain him. In an attempt to save his life (as a matched bone marrow donor had not been found), doctors gave Kye a cord blood stem cell transplant (taken from an umbilical cord donor after childbirth as it contains stem cells which can be used to treat hematopoietic and genetic disorders). Sadly Kye remained unwell; there was no change to his condition.

Kye was the only child to parents Laura Carpenter and Kieron Mark who are said to be inconsolable.

Beverley De-Gale OBE said: “Our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences are with the Carpenter & Mark families especially Laura and Kieron, Kye’s parents. The family has mentally and emotionally struggled throughout 2010-2011 to observe their brave little soldier trying to beat the cancerous disease.

'' Sadly in late 2011 it became apparent that Kye was losing his battle to combat the leukaemia and so they did what any loving family would... they used their precious little time to spend quality time with Kye giving as much love as possible in a very short window. The family are going through an incredibly tough time; however Kye’s mum and dad have requested the general public show their support by contacting the ACLT to join the donor registers in order to actively work together as a community and to prevent another young life being taken.”

The ACLT will be holding a recruitment drive this weekend, Saturday 3rd December at the “Proud of Southwark” event at Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Road, London SE1 5UJ, between 11am – 4.30pm.

Beverley De-Gale OBE adds “This weekend’s recruitment drive will now be held as a tribute to Kye Carpenter-Mark, we hope the community come together and join us to honour his name”.

 

To read more on Kye’s story, please visit the ACLT website www.aclt.org   For more information on how to become a bone marrow, blood and organ donor please visit the ACLT’s website, www.aclt.org or call 020 8240 4480

29th November 2011