Alberta toddler dies waiting for stem cell transplant, family vows to help others find a match
An Alberta family is planning to continue helping others find stem cell matches after their toddler died waiting for one.
Ezra Marfo of Lac La Biche was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2021. Ezra's father, Jacob Marfo, became a stem cell donor but wasn't a perfect match, so he started holding events looking for a match.
Ezra was of African descent and less than one per cent of people who join the stem cell program at Canadian Blood Services (CBS) are of African origin, according to Adrienne San Juan, with CBS.
"It's so easy, the stem cell, it's just a swab in the mouth for saliva, and a lot of people were not aware of it," said Jacob.
Earlier in the year, Jacob partnered with CBS to raise awareness of Ezra's need for a donor and the need for donors from diverse backgrounds. Only 33 per cent of the stem cell registry consists of ethnically diverse individuals, according to San Juan.
"Even though Ezra was just two, he was very selfless… so I have to continue his legacy of being selfless by doing what's going to help other people… so that no parent, grandparent, boyfriend or girlfriend goes through what I have," said Jacob.
Jacob was on a cross-Canada search for a donor, including events in Ontario over the weekend, when Ezra died on Friday.
"I'm grateful to him for the two years he spent with me," said Jacob.
"Ezra fought not just for himself, but for other people, so I'm very grateful that his short life is going to have an impact on a lot of other people. His legacy will continue to live on."
Swab4Ezra events will continue, as the family wants to keep expanding the stem cell registry to help other people get the life-saving transplant they need.
Jacob thanked all the volunteers who have and continue to help at the stem cell drives and the people who have joined the registry.
"We are grateful to all of you, you have been amazing," said Jacob.
The process to become a donor is simple: After answering a health questionnaire, you get a swab kit to collect DNA.
According to San Juan, most people on the registry will never receive a call to donate, but those who do won't need invasive surgery as 90 per cent of donations are made through a process similar to donating blood.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Alison MacKinnon and Brittany Ekelund
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.