The boy born to save his sister's life: Parents had fourth child to provide stem cells for their sick daughter
A couple who had a fourth child to try and provide a lifesaving stem cell transplant for their daughter with leukaemia, say the unusual situation unfolded after a chance remark by a nurse.
Nicola and Jim Walker's little girl Abby was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was just two-years-old in 2006.
Abby began suffering from recurring back pain and bruising and this led to the shock diagnosis for the Melbourne family.
The family invited ABC's Australian Story to report on their journey, saying it was a chance remark by a nurse that led the couple to consider having a another child so cord blood stem cells could be harvested if normal drugs failed.
Mrs Walker said: "You just want to make sure that your baby's going to be OK."
Despite senior oncologist Dr Peter Downie telling the family Abby had an 80 per cent chance of survival after chemotherapy, the couple, decided to continue with their 'backup plan' and were quickly pregnant again.
The couple knew there was only a 25 per cent chance the new baby's stem cells would match Abby's and they would only be tested for a match if she relapsed.
James was born on May 5, 2008 and the stem cells were harvested, they are currently stored at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. They will only be tested if Abby relapses and needs a transplant.
They say they had always hoped for a fourth child but Abby's illness meant the process was sped up.
Nicola told Australian Story: "There were a few people who were against it, the fact that this baby may be brought into the world and made to think that it was born just in order to help Abby.
“A lot of people believe that maybe you're playing God, playing with the stem cells, but I believe that anyone would do anything to save their child if put in that position.”
Mrs Walker even went as far to say that if James was not a match she would consider a fifth child.
"I can't see any more children in the foreseeable future,"
“I think four is plenty. But if it did come down to it and Abby needed a transplant and the other three were not suitable then I would consider another baby," she added.
Abby sees her specialist Dr Downie once a year to monitor for any lasting cognitive issues caused by chemotherapy.
He told Australian Story he would be 'gobsmacked' if her cancer returned.
"Her disease isn't going to come back," he said.
Mr Walker told Australian Story: "Thankfully Abby hasn't relapsed so we've never had to use the stem cells."
The family now want to leave their journey with cancer in the past and Mrs Walker says she wants to become a foster parent to help those less fortunate.
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