ITV Yorkshire
Without a cure for his rare blood disorder, six year old Zain Hashmi will die. For years his parents fought for the right to use controversial fertility treatment to create a ‘saviour sibling’ whose bone marrow would be a perfect genetic match for Zain.
Their plan was to use IVF to conceive another baby, and use the cells from its umbilical cord to grow new bone marrow to cure Zain’s disorder. Facing huge opposition from many corners, the Hashmis took the case to the high court, and in a landmark decision they received permission to go ahead with the procedure.
Facing critics who said they were trying to play God, we followed the Hashmis through tough IVF procedures and the constant fear that Zain could die. As their newly fertilised eggs are sent to the USA for screening, we’re with them when they discover if any of their nine IVF embyros are a match for Zain. And after a successful implantation, we’re with them when they discover whether they’ve actually managed to conceive.
In two half-hour films, Saving Zain follows the Hashmis in their race against time. The older Zain gets, the smaller the chances of the procedure working become. This is the story of one family’s fight to save their son.