Event to find stem cell donor met with overwhelming support
A cheek swabbing event in Mervin, Sask. to help find a stem cell donation match for six-year-old Paige Schmidt was met with overwhelming support Sunday.
Schmidt suffers from a rare condition called Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), in which her bone marrow fails to produce platelets, and red and white blood cells. As a result, Schmidt has to get weekly platelet transfusions and a blood transfusion every other week.
Finding a match with a stem cell donor would allow Schmidt to produce these cells on her own following a successful transplant.
Word quickly got out about Schmidt’s medical needs, which brought dozens of people from all over the province to register as a potential donor. In fact, some potential donors came from as far as Red Deer, Alta. to register.