Fight SCID for Mighty Hudson

The story thus far.

Hudson Ian Cowie was born on Sunday, June 23rd, at 730am, weighing 6lbs, 14oz. He was active, alert, and happy to meet his parents. He was brought  home the following day, and the Cowie's prepared for their journey into parenthood.

On Friday, June 28th, at 320pm, the Cowie's received a phone call that would change the course of their lives. They were informed that Hudson had tested positive on his Newborn Prescreening for a condition known as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and that he would require prompt follow up from an immunologist to confirm the diagnosis.

On July 2nd, at 9am,  Hudson was diagnosed with SCID at the Edmonton Stollery Children's Hospital.

SCID, better known as the Boy in the Bubble disease, is a condition characterized by non-functioning T-cells in Hudson's immune system. This fundamentally leaves Hudson without protection from bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and leaves him susceptible to severe illness. Hudson does NOT have an immune system.

The good news. SCID IS CURABLE!

Hudson has already been referred to a spectacular team of paediatric immunologists, and the wheels have already been set in motion to facilitate a cure.  Due to the nature of the illness, prompt, definitive treatment is paramount to the success of Hudson's journey, so this is expected to move very fast.

Hudson has been placed on strict isolation and will remain so for the next 9 months or more, as exposure to even the simplest cold virus could prove fatal for him. Hudson will also receive prophylactic antibiotics, antifungals, and IV immunoglobulin (IVIG) to protect him while he awaits treatment. The definitive treatment for Hudson will be a bone marrow transplant (BMT) and needs to occur within the next 2-3 months. Following transplant, Hudson will remain on isolation for approximately 6 more months as his brand new immune system develops and grows. Following this course of treatment, provided everything goes well, Hudson can lead a healthy, happy life.

As family, friends and coworkers of Ian and Hayley, we are asking first for as many people as possible, to get swabbed and placed on the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell (bone marrow) donation registry.

For those that wish to do more, we have created this Go-Fund-Me page as another way to support the family.

Hudson’s father Ian works as a Paramedic with Alberta Health Services and Hudson’s mother Hayley is an LPN at the Stollery Children's Hospital  in Edmonton. Both Ian and Hayley love their work. Their kind and compassionate natures have made them exceptional practitioners and this shines through in their dedication to serving the public.

Due to the danger to Hudson, Ian and Hayley will not be able to work for the duration of Hudson’s treatment.  Their interactions with the environment outside their home will need to be kept to a minimum in an effort to keep Hudson safe from any possible contagion. This isolation could last up to a year or more.
This combined with the travel requirements for treatment in Calgary and certain uninsured medications Hudson will require, means that Ian and Hayley will be under financial duress during this already immensely stressful time.

Please help us in coming together to show support to this amazing family in their time of need.  If you would like to continue following Hudsons journey please do so on the Facebook Group called Mighty Hudson.

Thank you all so very much.