A mother in west London is asking people to register as stem cell donors after both her young sons were diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, a rare genetic immune disorder.
The Zberea-Nica family of west London has made a public plea after two very young boys in their care received a life-altering diagnosis. Mother Marcela Zberea, 29, and father Stelian Dorin Nica, 36, are appealing for volunteers to join the donor register after their sons, Cezar (two years old) and David (10 months old), were both found to have Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome.
The family is working with the stem cell charity DKMS to widen the search for compatible matches and to explain why a transplant could transform the boys’ prospects.
Life for the brothers is currently heavily constrained because their immune systems are profoundly compromised.
The family’s message is urgent: a successful stem cell transplant can reduce infection risk and offer the possibility of a more typical childhood. The parents are not suitable matches, so their hope rests with unrelated donors signing up to the registry.
The appeal emphasises that anyone could be compatible and that registering only takes minutes but could mean years of life for someone else.
The condition and how it affects the children
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome is a serious inherited condition that undermines the body’s defence mechanisms and blood clotting systems. As an X-linked disorder, it predominantly affects boys because the defective gene sits on the X chromosome. Cases are very rare—roughly three in every million worldwide—so many people are unfamiliar with the symptoms, which include easy bruising, eczema, bloody diarrhoea and prolonged bleeding from minor injuries. Early indicators often include low platelet counts, which can prompt urgent hospital assessments in infancy.
How the diagnosis unfolded and why a donor is vital
The brothers were diagnosed in close succession. Cezar’s low platelet counts led to in-depth testing when he was only a few weeks old, and David’s diagnosis followed immediately after his birth during the same medical appointment. For the family, receiving two diagnoses at once was overwhelming: doctors advised that the only durable treatment likely to restore immune function is a stem cell transplant. Because neither parent is a match, the search must extend into the wider community to find compatible unrelated donors who can provide the necessary stem cells.
Why donor background matters
Compatibility for a transplant depends on precise immune system markers known as HLA matching. Those markers are influenced by ancestry, which is why the family and DKMS are particularly keen to hear from people of Eastern European heritage. While any registered donor could be a match, adding more volunteers from similar genetic backgrounds increases the likelihood of finding a suitable donor for these boys and others with inherited or acquired blood disorders like blood cancers.
How to register and what to expect
Signing up to a donor register is a straightforward process: it usually involves a short form and a cheek swab or blood sample to record your immune markers for the database. DKMS explains that registration takes only a few minutes, but having a larger, more diverse pool of potential donors can save lives. If a match is identified, the actual donation is handled by specialists and can be either a peripheral blood stem cell collection or a bone marrow procedure, with medical teams ensuring donor safety throughout.
Messages from the family and charity
Marcela has said she wants nothing more than for her boys to enjoy ordinary childhood experiences—playgroups, social interaction and the simple freedoms other children take for granted. The family’s appeal is simple: please register and spread the word. A spokeswoman for DKMS echoed the urgency of the situation, reminding the public that the right volunteer signing up could be “the only hope” for patients like Cezar and David. The charity encourages everyone who can to register and to share the appeal, especially among communities of Eastern European background.
The brothers’ current lifestyle is cautious and limited because they are so vulnerable to infection, but with a matched donor and a successful transplant, the potential for a normal life improves markedly. The family continues to work closely with medical teams and DKMS, and they remain hopeful that an unrelated stem cell donor will come forward. If you are willing to help, registering with a reputable donor organisation could offer these boys—and many others—a real chance at a healthier future.
