Baby Arriella Andrews was born without a functioning immune system and is now waiting for a matching bone marrow donor.

Four-month-old Arriella Andrews, from Nottinghamshire, England, was born with an extremely rare condition called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), often referred to as “bubble baby syndrome.” The inherited condition affects around one in every 300,000 babies.

Arriella was born on January 7 and initially appeared perfectly healthy. However, she developed a persistent cough, and her mother rushed her to hospital by ambulance after noticing she was struggling to breathe. Over the following three weeks, Arriella was treated for three respiratory infections and pneumonia before doctors diagnosed her with SCID.

As soon as the diagnosis was confirmed, she was placed in a protected hospital room and given the antibiotics she needed to help guard against infections that her body could not fight on its own.

During the first eight days, her mother, Cassidy, had to wear a protective gown, gloves and a face mask whenever she was with Arriella to help keep her safe. Cassidy was even unable to kiss her daughter because even a simple kiss could expose her to germs that her body could not defend against.

Despite everything, Arriella has faced every challenge with incredible strength. Cassidy lovingly calls her “the girl in the greenhouse.” She is currently staying at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where she is waiting for a suitable bone marrow donor before undergoing a transplant.

Cassidy shared her daughter’s story in the hope that more people will consider registering as bone marrow donors.

“Seeing Arriella like this is heartbreaking. She is surrounded by wires and tubes, and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Every parent’s worst nightmare is seeing their child in hospital… She is so lonely and living with a condition that very few people have ever heard of.

“There are so many days when I feel completely helpless. I sit beside her and feel like there’s nothing I can do.

“For the first eight days after she was born, I had to wear a mask, gloves and protective clothing just to be near her. I couldn’t kiss her. I couldn’t even comfort her with a simple touch. When she was transferred to Great Ormond Street, she was placed in a special isolation room to protect her from any germs.

“When I became pregnant last May, I never imagined my daughter would face something like this. You can never know what life has in store. But she has shown incredible strength. She is so brave, and I will keep fighting right beside her. I will do everything I can for my little girl.”

Although Arriella’s parents are divorced, her father continues to visit her regularly. Both parents recently underwent blood tests to help doctors narrow the search for the most suitable bone marrow match.

Cassidy has been registered as a bone marrow donor since she was 18, but she previously believed bone marrow donations were only used to help people with leukemia. It was only after her daughter became ill that she fully understood how important donor registration really is. A successful bone marrow transplant could give Arriella a functioning immune system and a much healthier future. That is why Cassidy is sharing her daughter’s story, hoping more people will join the donor registry and help find the perfect match.

Cassidy said: “The very first thing I want to do when Arriella gets better is take her to the park so she can enjoy the sunshine. I want her to know what fresh air feels like.”