A second swab event will be held in Chatham to find a donor for 16-year-old Ethan Hunter.
Ethan's mom, Shara Hunter, said the event held this past Saturday had a great turnout but because of the wait for results, they are continuing to move forward.
"Everybody just wants to help, we had 35 new registrants and we were also told there are a lot of people who have already been tested and ordered the kits so the number is quite higher than we actually know," said Hunter.
The results from the swabs at the clinic held at the Healthplex Centre at St. Clair College won't be available for about six weeks.
"If there is a match we will get a hit on our end, so our doctor team will be notified and they will come and inform us we have a match," explained Hunter. Adding, "There is a grade. We want a nine out of 10 or a 10 out of 10 based on his aggressive cancer."
Ethan was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, lymphoblastic lymphoma T-Cell leukemia, and because of this is limited to finding a donor match between the ages of 17 and 35.
"The biggest concern is it [bone marrow] ages like organs. So it's very dangerous for him with no immune system to go through something like that it would probably kill him," said Hunter.
Ethan remains at a London hospital, and while he doesn't normally like attention, his mom knows deep down the love and support from Chatham-Kent is keeping his spirits up.
"He's pretty quiet when you talk about it but you know his gears are turning, like 'oh my God look at how many people love me'. The visitors are absolutely amazing," said Hunter.
The family remains hopeful another clinic will produce more possible matches and are asking those between the ages of 17 and 35 to come to the Real Canadian Superstore in Chatham on Saturday, August 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to get swabbed.
If you are unable to attend on the 17th you can register and request a swab kit from Canadian Blood Services. Hunter explains that while you might not be a match for Ethan, you could be for someone else.
"It saves tons of lives. That was my goal coming into this, there is a positive to everything...I'm not just saving my kid, I'm saving so many people. I have to reach out and I guess make this big. Bring awareness to what people need and what people are going through."
