Ethan Fleming is a fighter, and fighters can get pretty hungry.
He鈥檚 facing down his second cancer diagnosis, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and recently the only thing he was craving was a particular Chunky soup. With the empty shelves all around, his mom Tanna couldn鈥檛 find a can anywhere near the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver.
So she did what any mom would do 鈥� she posted a plea on Facebook. And the community answered. It didn鈥檛 take long for can upon can of Ethan鈥檚 favourite soup to arrive at their home in Chilliwack.
It鈥檚 that outpouring of love that they are counting on for support, as the family braces for the next big steps. Right now, the family of four is channeling all their strength inward, as one child steps up bravely to help the other.
At age 17, Ethan鈥檚 big sister Rebecca just squeezes into the age category for ideal stem cell donors, of 17-35. She鈥檚 already been through several rounds of tests, and self isolated herself the very minute school ended for spring break.
It was an easy choice for Rebecca, who was also right beside her brother when fought osteosarcoma for two years, beginning at age seven. He had been cancer free for five years, but the MDS was caused by his previous chemotherapy.
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As it turns out, Rebecca is a seven out of 10 match to her brother. She鈥檚 healthy and strong, and there are no cancer markers in her blood. As it looks right now, she will be harvested for her stem cells just after Easter weekend. A special machine to do the work has been put on order, and the Fleming鈥檚 medical team is preparing for a successful transplant.
But these aren鈥檛 ordinary times. The whole process is fraught with potential problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the family can get sick 鈥� dad Walter is already only visiting infrequently. He is a milk truck driver and considered an essential worker, doing his part to keep milk flowing to local grocery stores.
It鈥檚 impossible to know how overloaded the hospital will be in two weeks. Equipment that is needed for COVID-19 patients is also equipment that is needed for Ethan.
The doctors can鈥檛 get sick. The medical staff can鈥檛 sick. And once the process starts, it has to forge ahead.
They can鈥檛 leave the Ronald McDonald House either, as restrictions on moving in and out have changed due to the pandemic.
And so they wait for the word that it鈥檚 all going ahead, and they try to stay positive.
But there is something that they are asking anyone who reads this to do. They want everyone to consider giving blood, and to especially consider registering as a stem cell donor. It鈥檚 not a simple procedure to be a donor, but it鈥檚 nothing compared to what Ethan and other cancer patients endure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a simple process but are you willing to save someone鈥檚 life by doing this?,鈥� Tanna says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been pushing as much as I can, 鈥榩lease donate, please donate, please donate,鈥� there鈥檚 only so much I can do as a mom.鈥�
So much of what is happening now is in the hands of others, she says. But she can get the message out about blood and stem cell donation. And she can share her son鈥檚 story.
And like all families who are focused on keeping a loved one alive, they are graciously accepting funds as well. There were several events set up to help the Flemings financially, including one planned for The Well at Elements Casino in Chilliwack. But as the concerns over COVID-19 grew, the events all had to be cancelled.
There is a Facebook page called Ethan鈥檚 World, where they post photos and updates as much as possible. There is also a link to the account a family member set up to organize donations, called The Fleming Family.
Both kids are already busy members of the community, Tanna says, and she鈥檚 proud of Chilliwack for supporting them in return.
Ethan is a War Champ and has been in the Remembrance Day parade laying a wreath for the veterans, for example.
Right now, the hardest part for all them is the separation of the family.
鈥淚鈥檓 doing okay,鈥� Tanna says. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 hard for me, I have a hard time because Walter鈥檚 not here. And for Ethan, that鈥檚 the hardest part of the transplant. They鈥檙e best buds.鈥�
To learn more about the stem cell donation process, or how you can give blood, visit blood.ca.
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