Support Calum’s Fight Against Leukemia

Our friends and family Kathleen, Allan and Lauchlin received devastating news on the morning of October 11th. Their 3 and a half year old son and brother Calum, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The type of cancer Calum has requires intense chemotherapy that started right away. Due to the nature of his cancer he will be hospitalized for 4-5 months with little to no ability to leave.

Unthinkable news was delivered on October 27th. Calum’s genes and sub types came back showing his leukemia is worse than we had hoped. The only way to possibly cure Calum is through a bone marrow transplant. Chemo will not cure him on its own. Calum will receive two more rounds of chemo at the Halifax IWK. Then in January Calum will be transported to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto where he will receive a bone marrow transplant.

The transplant team has stated Calum and his family could be in Toronto away from their family and friends, who are their main support network, for a possible 3-6 months.

Since Calum's diagnosis everyone has been asking what we can do to help support the Macdonald/Pattersons.

Now that we know they will be spending an extended period of time in Toronto living in the hospital and travelling back and forth, we would love to start a fundraising campaign allowing them to focus all of their energy into Calum's fight against leukemia.

If you would like to help support Calum in another way:

Calum has already received, and will continue to receive many blood and platelet transfusions.

Please, if you are able and willing, donate blood. It will go a long way for our Calum, as well as countless other Canadians.

You can sign up to give blood at the below website:

https://www.blood.ca/en

Any funds that do not go directly to supporting Calum, his care or travel for the family to and from Toronto will be donated back to the IWK in recognition of their incredible support, love and kindness.

Thank you so much on behalf of Kathleen, Allan, Lauchlin and Calum for supporting them through this difficult time.

Angela Pennell - Family friend and Neighbour