Toronto toddler searching for one-in-40-million donor to save her life
The family of three-year-old Leia Fallico is on the search of a lifetime — they're looking for a donor to provide Leia with a life-saving stem cell transplant.
In February, Leia was diagnosed with Dyskeratosis congenita, a rare genetic form of bone marrow failure.
“We were so shocked and it was so hard to believe because we saw a child who didn't present the symptoms but the thing about this genetic illness is that it can present at any time,” Leia’s mother, Shonna Follico, told CTV News.
In late May, Shonna and Marco Fallico were told by The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto that Leia would need a stem cell treatment.
However, Leia’s mixed ethnicity — she is both Persian and European — has made finding her a donor challenging. She will likely need a donor of a similar background, the family said.
Canadian Blood Services, who facilitates stem cell donations in Canada, said that “while not always the case, patients are more likely to find a matching donor among those who share their ethnic ancestry which makes an ethnically diverse donor base extremely important.”
“Only 3.5 per cent of the Canadian Blood Services’ stemcell registry is made up of people of mixed ethnicity making it hard for patients like Leia to find a match,” Fallico said.
“That is a scary percentage, especially when we are going through this with our daughter and for anyone else out there who is of mixed race looking for a bone marrow transplant,” she said.
As of right now, out of 40 million donors currently registered worldwide, none are a match for Leia.
The Fallico family has launched a campaign in the hopes of finding a donor for Leia.
The campaign has caught the attention of many prominent voices across the province.
Ontario’s Minister of Education Stephen Lecce has raised concerns about the issue, meeting with the Fallico family and urging Ontarians to check if they could be an eligible donor.
“I want you to join me today in taking a swab to help save [Leia’s] life … It literally takes thirty seconds … It doesn’t hurt,” Lecce said in a video of the meeting.
The City of Vaughan has also released a statement on Leia’s journey.
"To Marco, Shonna and the Fallico family, I want you to know that you are not alone,” wrote Vaughan mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.
“The entire Vaughan community is with you every step of this journey to find a donor match for Leia,” he said.
A GoFundMe set up for the Fallico family has raised over $150,000 so far. The family says that funds will go towards “costs associated with Leia’s transplant surgery, therapy sessions, the cost to purchase swab kits from a private lab in the US and additional costs for testing when a donor is matched.”
Right now, the Fallico family’s primary goal is to urge others to check their donor eligibility.
“Our main focus is to plead with everyone that is able in Canada — if you're between 17 and 35 — please register with blood.ca … They will ship you a free swap. It’s easy,” Marco Fallico said.
Eligible donors can register through Canadian Blood Services or Swab the World.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.