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Teen’s death sparked stem-cell transplant funding, minister says

Laura Hillier endured five rounds of chemotherapy before she died while waiting for a stem cell transplant, her mother said.

Published Jul 27, 2017 at 4:25pm

Teen’s death sparked stem-cell transplant funding, minister says

Hamilton, Ontario, July 10,2015, 18 year old Laura Hillier of Burlington is on a waiting list to for a stem cell transplant. She has successfully located a matching donor but has now been placed on a waiting list with 33 others patients waiting for the same procedure at the Juravinski Cancer Center in Hamilton. Hillier and her family want people to be aware that although much media attention has been focused on a lack of donors most don’t realize that even after a donor is located their is a long wait list to have the transplant. During this time patients are subjected to additional rounds of toxic chemotherapy ( beyond the normal protocol ) to keep their immune systems depressed and ready for the new bone marrow or stem cell transplant. This puts waiting patients at huge additional risk. Cathie Coward/ Hamilton Spectator

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