A nine-month old baby boy battling a rare form of adult leukemia underwent a successful bone marrow transplant on Monday.
Eli Perry, who was diagnosed with cancer when he was just three months old, received the transplant from his four-and-a-half year-old brother Isaac Perry.
The boys’ aunt, Jodi Perry, said both boys are doing well.
“Eli is expected to continue to do well over the next few days and then as I understand it, the fight really begins,” she said. “His chemo will kick in at that point and bring his immune system back to the bottom, and his mouth and other soft digestive tissues will start to get burn type sores and his body will try to fight against the new bone marrow cells, and they will fight back.”
Eli and his mom will be in isolation for the next 96 days at BC Children’s Hospital to protect him from infections.
As Eli’s treatments are all done in Vancouver, it is putting a financial strain on Eli’s parents and his seven brothers and sisters.
Eli’s dad has largely stayed at home in Campbell River to care for the other children while Eli’s mom has stayed at the hospital to watch over her youngest.
To help the family, a group of people from the community has banded together to host a fundraising event at Robert Ostler Park this Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Local home-based businesses such as Scentsy, Sweet Tweet Boutique, Mary Kay, Ashes to Canvas and more will be selling their wares.
There will also be a large outdoor garage sale full of gently used treasures, as well as a craft table, a bounce-a-rama, and other activities for the kids.
A silent auction with donations from local businesses rounds out the day.
One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the event will go to the Perry family to help with travelling and medical costs.