Meet Ethan

Meet Ethan.

This Dream Kid has a calm and quiet demeanor, but he’s one of the friendliest kids you’ll meet!

Dream Kid Ethan gets along with everyone. He loves playing video games and eating fast food, just like most 8-year-olds. His favourite food right now is poutine! Ethan is a great big brother to his two younger siblings.

Pictured: Ethan has had to experience so many intense procedures.

Ethan doesn’t remember much of it, but for most of his childhood, he’s been battling Myelofibrosis – bone marrow cancer. This is a rare type of cancer that only a few children across Canada are diagnosed with.

When Ethan was diagnosed at 18 months old, doctors weren’t sure what his treatment plan should be, and he was living on blood platelet transfusions every day. Finally, the Mayo Clinic recommended a bone marrow transplant. At first, they had trouble finding a donor, but they soon found that Ethan’s dad was a match!

Ethan and his dad underwent the transplant. They took lots of samples from dad, but Ethan’s T-cells prevented the transplant from taking right away. After the transplant, Ethan had a lot of difficulties – he experienced liver failure, kidney failure, and went into sepsis several times over the three months following the transplant. But Ethan stayed strong and pushed through.

When Ethan was finally able to leave the hospital, he began post-transplant treatment. He and his family had to isolate for six months and be very cautious. Ethan’s two siblings had to stay with their grandma that entire time. Ethan fought hard and overcame the pain, fatigue, and developmental delays in his bones.

Now, Ethan is doing a lot better! He only has appointments every two years to be checked up on. He’s doing great in school and is even taking martial arts classes! Ethan still occasionally gets nosebleeds because of his illness, but other than that, he doesn’t remember much from being sick. After everything Ethan has been through, he deserves to have some fun!

Pictured: Ethan got a bone marrow transplant from his dad - a very intense procedure.

When Ethan met with The Dream Factory, he shared that his Dream is to experience the magic of Disney! Ethan has always wanted to go to Disney, and now he and his family finally can!