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Isaac was just three-years-old when he donated his bone marrow in an attempt to keep his little brother Ethan alive.

Baby Ethan was born with a rare genetic condition called Shwachman Diamond Syndrome, and also developed aplastic anemia, which meant his bone marrow never functioned properly, reports Daily Mail.

His mother Michaela told Daily Mail Australia her son’s condition was so rare it was only a one in 77,000 occurrence.

‘It meant he unfortunately had a lot of issues,’ she said.

Michaela said her and her husband Craig spent the first 10 weeks of Ethan’s life in hospital.

‘We took him home for just 22 hours then had to take him back,’ she said.

She said he grew so sick, his only chance at life was a bone marrow transplant.

But devastatingly enough, Michaela was told both she and her husband Craig were not matches for their son.

But sure enough, their other son Isaac was. Isaac Baguley was just three-years-old when he donated his bone marrow in an attempt to keep his little brother Ethan alive.

While she was relieved Isaac was a match, she said she was also ‘worried and scared’.

‘We wanted a solution for one child but still didn’t want to put another child through it,’ she said.

‘If Isaac had said no, we wouldn’t have done it.’

Just three-years-old at the time, Isaac willingly went into hospital and donated bone marrow to his critically ill brother.

‘Isaac was an awesome big brother to Ethan,’ she said.

‘It was pretty special.’

But just 44 days after the potentially life-saving surgery, Michaela said Ethan tragically died due to complications.

Ethan’s death was devastating for the Rockhampton couple, but Michaela said they knew they’d done ‘absolutely everything possible’ for their son.

But devastatingly, she said Isaac didn’t understand why his brother died.

‘He said “I couldn’t save him mum”,’ she said.

Michaela said she did what she could to make Isaac understand he gave them the precious gift of another 44 days with Ethan.

Now more than two years after their son’s death, Michaela said the family was taking it day by day.

‘It’s always hard when you’re missing a family member but life goes on, you don’t have a choice,’ she said.

‘There’s always someone missing from your family and that’s really difficult.’

Such a gorgeous big brother.
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Image via Daily Mail

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  • poor little boy, havimg to carry that guilt

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  • What a burden for such a little man to carry. They say they asked him and if he said no to donating, they wouldn’t have gone through with it. At 3, is he even fully aware of exactly what they were asking of him? Tragic story

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  • Aw bless this family !
    Poor Isaac, hope he doesn’t carry guilt and trauma on his wee shoulders because he couldn’t safe his wee brother….that’s a heavy load

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  • I hope this family and especially Isaac will be okay.

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  • I am really concerned that the 3 year old could suffer from depression as a result of this in a few years. Please keep an very close eye on your very brave little boy. I know of a lad who sadly took his own life when he was in his teens as he couldn’t accept what had happened but said nothing to his parents.

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  • a very heavy burden for such a young one to bare. You did great little man, your family are very proud of your gift to your baby brother

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  • Read your story of your sons death sorry 4 your lose but what really was sad was what your other son said Sorry Mum I couldn’t save him
    sam1949@rogers.com

    Reply

  • Little one! They did everything they could. I wish the outcome had been different! :-(

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  • How heartbreaking. My thoughts and deepest sympathies with the family.

    Reply

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