\n Qasim Rizwan, from Bolton, said he feels as if his \u201clife has restarted\u201d after overcoming autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA).\n<\/p>\n
\n He also visited experts at the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) national frozen blood bank in Liverpool, who helped save his life.\n<\/p>\n
\n Qasim was diagnosed with AIHA in June last year, but doctors at Manchester Children\u2019s Hospital initially struggled to match his blood type.\n<\/p>\n
\n Scientists at NHSBT discovered he was a rare mix, including r’r’, a subtype of the Rhesus system that is shared by roughly one in 10,000 people.\n<\/p>\n
\n Only around 50 blood donors are type r’r’.\n<\/p>\n
\n Qasim Rizwan with doctors (Image: NHSBT\/PA Wire)\n<\/p>\n
\n Staff urgently defrosted and sent all six matching units of blood from its national frozen blood bank, as well as another unit from its facility in Colindale, London.\n<\/p>\n
\n One of the units Qasim received was the same age as him and was donated when he was just eight days old.\n<\/p>\n
\n A rare donor was also specifically called up to give blood.\n<\/p>\n
\n The transfusions were given alongside other medication, steroids and immunoglobulin to cure Qasim\u2019s condition.\n<\/p>\n
\n AIHA is a rare disorder which impacts around 1,200 people in the UK each year, and causes the immune system to mistakenly target and destroy red blood cells faster than the body can make them.\n<\/p>\n
\n Symptoms include extreme tiredness, a rapid heartbeat and jaundice.\n<\/p>\n
\n Qasim said: \u201cI felt like I was going to die. I was really scared, hoping I would survive, and eventually I did.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI really like the doctors<\/a>, they helped me so much. They were so kind to me, and they calmed me down if I was sad or angry.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cI feel like I have my daily routine and everything is back to normal. My life has restarted.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cI just feel unique, and it\u2019s quite amazing that I have rare blood.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n Qasim\u2019s mother, Mahnaz Nazar, said her son \u201cwas a fit and healthy eight-year-old\u201d before symptoms started.\n<\/p>\n \n The mental health support worker, 43, said: \u201cJust a typical boisterous boy who loves sports, riding his bike, and he\u2019s very sharp.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cIt came on quite suddenly \u2013 he went from being healthy to waking up one morning with yellow eyes and skin.\n<\/p>\n \n Qasim Rizwan with doctors (Image: NHSBT\/PA Wire)\n<\/p>\n