An Alberta family’s national search for a compatible stem cell for their two-year-old son brought them to the GTA.
Ezra was born in June 2020. In May the following year, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia – a rare form of cancer. He has been receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary for over a year. Even if her condition improved, the progress would only be temporary.
“His condition got a little worse, he relapsed,” said Jacob Marfo, the father of Ezra, who was found to be partially compatible and became a donor in September 2021. “It was very devastating, very heartbreaking to hear that.”
Marfo describes his son as a very happy little man who loves games, cartoons and has a unique affinity for vacuuming.
“He just wants to hug him, he loves it.”
“We see him go from being this boy who was active and able to do things to someone who is confined to this crib 24 hours a day.”
Now the search is on to find the perfect match for Ezra. One of the challenges is that donors and recipients are much more likely to be compatible when there is a common ethnic background. Unable to find a partner in Calgary or Edmonton, Marfo approached his pastor and the church is now helping him find a donor.
“To make everything perfect, we have to go out and make the pool bigger,” he says.
This weekend, Marfo and a team of volunteers are in the GTA, swabbing members of the black community in hopes of finding that match.
“One of the most surprising things I learned during this process is that less than one percent of people on the stem cell donor registry are of Black, African and Caribbean descent,” said Mavis Afriyie-Boateng, one of the volunteers and a nurse. by background.
“Even if they don’t match Ezra, the hope is that we have them on the registry so they can be a donor for another child.”
Another community levy event is scheduled for Sunday. If you would like to attend but cannot make it this weekend, you are welcome to call 647-893-4417 and special arrangements can be made. You can also consult the Canadian Blood Services website to learn more about how you can help.
“We are amazed and we know that with what they are doing we will find a match,” Marfo said.
Files by Rachneet Randhawa and Lisa Grant were used in this article
Gb8
