A 29-year-old New Zealand mother is facing potential life-threatening delays in receiving a stem cell transplant for acute myeloid leukaemia, and may be forced to raise over $1 million for treatment overseas.
Diagnosis and Initial Treatment
Loran Geddes was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in November of last year, though she had been experiencing symptoms, such as bruising and fatigue, as early as July. Initial tests, including those for night sweats while breastfeeding, were inconclusive.
After her diagnosis, Geddes was placed on a waiting list for a stem cell transplant. Further testing revealed her cancer had mutations, making an allogenic stem cell transplant the only viable treatment option. She achieved remission in January after a second cycle of chemotherapy and found a donor in the UK, as no match was found in New Zealand.
Delays and Funding Concerns
Despite being in remission and having a donor identified, Geddes was informed in April that her transplant date had been pushed back to August – nine months after her initial diagnosis. The delays are due to capacity constraints at stem cell transplant centers in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, and lengthy waitlists.
“Those words from the doctor were the hardest things to hear,” Geddes said. “The waiting for a transplant is really risky for me. These delays put me in a position of potential relapse.”
Geddes fears the delay could be fatal. She has questioned where a recent $6.11 million investment, followed by a $27 million funding boost announced in November, has been allocated, stating she has received vague answers.
Health New Zealand Response
Richard Sullivan, executive national director clinical at Health New Zealand, acknowledged the demand for stem cell transplants exceeds current capacity. He stated the initial $6.11 million investment has led to the appointment of 21 full-time staff in Christchurch and 26 in Auckland, with five more to be appointed in May. This investment resulted in 125 allogeneic transplants being performed in 2023, up from 114 in 2022.
The additional $27 million will be implemented over the next three years, aiming to increase allogenic transplants to 161 by 2027 and 2028.
Seeking Treatment Overseas
Geddes is now exploring the possibility of receiving treatment in Australia, but faces significant costs. A private transplant in Australia would cost approximately $1.2 million, not including relocation expenses for her family.
The family has established a Givealittle page to raise funds for treatment and relocation.
“The fact that we’re having to look outside of this country for other options to try and save my life, I feel like we’re pretty failed by this healthcare system and this country,” Geddes said.
Current Status
As of December 2023, there were 228 patients on the New Zealand waitlist for stem cell transplants, 110 of whom require a donor. Geddes is currently scheduled for a transplant no later than mid-August at Auckland Hospital, but the hospital team is attempting to expedite the process. Health Minister Simeon Brown stated ensuring access to stem cell transplants is a priority.
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