TODDLER Hoh Sin Jun wakes up every morning with a smile. So do his parents. 'I look forward to waking up every morning because that is the first thing I see,' says his mother, Madam Leong Hong Yeok, 33.

Sin Jun was only five months old when he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease in which the body is unable to fight infections.

'The doctors told us his only hope was a stem-cell transplant from cord blood,' said Madam Leong.

Blood found in the umbilical cord is a rich source of immature cells that can develop into a wide range of different blood cells which can be used to replace diseased ones.

It took four months to find a match.

The transplant operation, which took place in May last year, was led by Associate Professor Tan Ah Moy, head of paediatric haematology and oncology at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

Sin Jun's father, Mr Hoh Kim Youn, 33, said: 'We quit our jobs to take care of him. We could not leave him in hospital all alone.'

Madam Leong worked as a quality surveyor while Mr Hoh was a sailor.

'He was a brave little boy,' added Mr Hoh. 'He didn't fuss or cry when doctors poked and prodded him with needles.'

Today Sin Jun is back home, having celebrated his first year after the transplant.

Doctors consider this date a significant milestone in dealing with the potentially fatal disease.

'But he still needs to be monitored closely as full immune system recovery takes up to two years,' said Prof Tan.

'I still worry about him,' said Madam Leong. Sin Jun's food must be specially prepared. Even bananas need to be steamed to minimise the possibility of infection.

Cleanliness is important too. 'I mop the floor twice a day and sterilise everything,' said his mother.

The cord blood was from the Singapore Cord Blood Bank (SCBB), the country's first public cord blood bank.

Less than two years since it opened its doors, SCBB has thus saved its first life.

Speaking to the media, Prof Tan said Sin Jun suffered from a condition called severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Sometimes referred to as 'bubble boy disease', the condition became widely known during the 1970s when the world learnt of David Vetter, a boy who lived for 12 years in a plastic, germ-free bubble.

When the disease was first diagnosed, Sin Jun 'was already suffering viral and fungal lung infection and bone infection', said Prof Tan.

Transplant operations of this type are not cheap. Dr William Hwang, medical director of SCBB, said: 'Retrieval of the cord from the bank costs up to $26,000. Testing each unit for a match costs $2,000.'

Added Prof Tan: 'The transplant alone costs between $80,000 and $100,000 but there is a government subsidy of about 50 per cent.'

Sin Jun's operation and treatment cost a whopping $300,000. 'It wiped out all our savings, including Medisave. Our siblings contributed their Medisave as well,' Mr Hoh said.

Families can also turn to charitable organisations for financial help. These include KKH Health Endowment Fund, Ronald McDonald Fund and Children's Cancer Society.

Launched in September 2005, SCBB aims to store about 10,000 units of life-saving stem cells within five years. This will provide those who need it with an 80 per cent chance of finding a match.

Cord blood is extracted and stored at SCBB free of charge, but the donor's family has no claim on the blood, which is available to anyone in need.

But costs of services, tests and retrieving the cord are borne by the recipient's family.

juditht@sph.com.sg

weichean@sph.com.sg