http://www.inside toronto.ca/printArticle/55091
Boy off to China to seek treatment
Boy off to China to seek treatment
September 3, 2008 03:48 PM
LISA RAINFORD
Thomas Bourke is just weeks away from embarking on the most important trip of his young life when he leaves this month for China, where he will undergo stem cell therapy.
During a 40-day stay, the toddler will receive six transplants of 10 to 15 million stem cells, which are obtained from umbilical cord blood, to repair damaged cells and tissues.
The little boy was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) when he was one-year old. At the time, his prognosis was grim. Bourke could not sit, crawl or walk without assistance and had difficulty speaking and using his hands to eat, point or hold a crayon.
"We are excited at the possibilities and of engaging Thomas in therapy that aims to treat the cause, not just its symptoms," said his mother Linda Canning. "We hope that the treatments that he continues to access following his trip will only reap stronger results."
The family, who lives in the Jane and Annette streets area, decided to seek treatment for Bourke in China because stem cell therapy is not available in Canada or the United States. China, particularly Beike Biotech, the company that runs the operation at several Chinese hospitals, is considered a worldwide leader in providing safe and effective stem cell application for such conditions as spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, optic nerve hypoplasia and CP, said Canning.
"Many families I have spoken to, whose children have CP, have reported a wide range of restored function, including increased range of movement, muscle coordination, trunk control, balance and speech," she told The Villager.
The decision to seek this cutting-edge therapy was a long and arduous one, but in the end, Canning came to the conclusion that she wanted to provide her son as many opportunities for a better quality of life that she could. The trip comes at a cost of approximately $30,000 plus the cost of the flight. That's why the neighbourhood is rallying in honour of Bourke. The residents of Harshaw Avenue, where the Canning/Bourke family lives, is hosting a street sale on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. until noon. This event includes a bake sale and raffle. Toonies for Thomas collection cans can be found at local Second Cup stores and Aeroplan has set up a charitable pool for people to donate air miles to offset Bourke's travel expenses. The TD Bank at Jane and Bloor is accepting donations to the Hope for Thomas Fund.
"It's all quickly coming up and I am excited and nervous all at once," Canning said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed.
For further details, visit www.hopeforthomas.com.