Vaughan students rally for sick child

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 14, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Dozens of students and staff from a Woodbridge high school have stepped up to try to help a local toddler diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening immunodeficiency disease and desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant.

A stem cell swab clinic held Thursday at Emily Carr Secondary School, in the Islington Avenue and Rutherford Road area, attracted 102 people, mostly students and teachers, between the ages of 17 and 35.

Alessia Channell, one of seven students who organized the event as an assignment for their Grade 11 leadership class, was thrilled with the turnout.

“It’s great,” she said. “I didn't think we were going to get this many people.”

Those who showed up took about five minutes out of their day to fill in the necessary paperwork and undergo four cheek swabs to collect cell samples used to determine if they’re a potential donor for Austin (his family has requested his last name not be used).

The one-and-a-half year old has been diagnosed with Chronic Granulomatous Disease, a rare and potentially deadly disease that can only be cured through a bone marrow transplant.

His parents were tested and aren’t compatible donors, so they’ve been reaching out to the community to find someone who is a match.

Amir Khodaparast, 18, was the first one through the door on Thursday morning.

“I’ve seen people affected not only by this disease, but several different diseases and this is my chance to help and it doesn’t even take that much of an effort,” he said. “So I came here to give back to the community because I’ve seen people go through pain and I don't want that to happen to anyone.”

Alyson Guyatt came out because she can empathize with Austin’s family.

“I haven’t been affected by anything like this personally, but I could imagine if someone in my family needed a transplant then you would want anyone to try and help,” said the 26-year-old math teacher.

Those who turned up at the school clinic are now registered with the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network so even if they’re not a compatible donor for Austin, they might turn out to be for someone else.

“The support is amazing from the community and these students to help Austin and other kids,” said Laura Camerlengo, Austin’s aunt. “Hopefully, other students will learn from this and do something to save another child’s life.”

Austin’s family has organized another clinic Thursday, Jan. 21 at St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 150 Saint Francis Ave., between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

To find out more, visit www.teamaustin.ca