'Things are looking up': How blood donations helped fight a boy's brain cancer
An 11-year-old boy has a bright future ahead after blood and platelet donations helped him fight off brain cancer.
Adrian Dyck was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer two years ago when he was nine.
"When we first found out that he had a brain tumour, we were just kind of stunned and in shock," said Adrian's mom, Sashira Gafic. "We didn’t know what was going to happen, it was really dark."
Adrian underwent brain surgery, radiation treatments, and then chemotherapy in order to fight off the cancer.
"Pretty much every round of chemo, he needed both blood and platelets," said Gafic.
Adrian received a total of six blood transfusions and eight platelet transfers over the course of his cancer treatments. Gafic had to turn to friends and family for help because she and Adrian's father are not able to donate blood.
"Both of us are so grateful to people who are able to donate and do," said Gafic.
Her best friend, Rose Marie Mauer, also stepped up for the cause, donating seven times since Adrian's first cancer diagnosis.
"It's like a peaceful happy feeling knowing that you can do something so simple," said Mauer.
Six months after Adrian's last chemotherapy treatment, Gafic said he is on the road to recovery.
"His body is getting back to normal," she said. "There's still a lot of hurdles, but he doesn’t need blood products anymore, and things are looking up."
The Hero in You campaign continues throughout the month of November with the goal of filling four more blood donation appointments.
You can book a blood donation appointment by using the GiveBlood app, going to blood.ca, or calling 1-888-2-donate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.