Supporters of a North Vancouver mother-of-two diagnosed with leukemia have begun the push to find a donor for the bone marrow that could save her life.
Thirty-five-year-old Erica Harris received the devastating news that she has acute myelogenous leukemia about a month ago, and has since undergone two rounds of chemotherapy. The first didn’t work and the second round, which just ended, was much harsher.
All the while, the search for a bone marrow donor has continued with little success, according to husband Harley Harris.
“Unfortunately, her only sibling wasn't a match -- they started that process right at the start -- so we need an unrelated match for bone marrow,” he told CTV News.
“We're asking for everyone to do as much as they can to help bring her home.”
Olga Pazukha of the OneMatch network, which connects patients with potential donors from around the world, says that finding a match is a difficult process.
“Matching a donor to a patient is based on certain genetic markers that are basically on your genetic code,” she said.
While younger male donors from different ethnic backgrounds are in high demand, anyone between the ages of 17 and 50 may be eligible. Those interested can register online here.
According to Pazukha, 949 patients are currently searching for a stem cell match in Canada, including 196 in B.C. At total of 327,839 donors are registered on OneMatch.
Patrick Sullivan, who lost his three-year-old son Finn to cancer in 2008, has raised more than $1 million for research on the disease. After hearing Erica’s story, he’s helping to organize a registration drive at Lynn Valley Village Friday night.
“They send you out a cheek swab kit, you swab your cheek and then you have the chance of potentially saving someone's life, so I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to do it,” Sullivan said.
Laptops will be available at the event for people to register as donors.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Maria Weisgarber
