I treated Florence, and I can tell you, she’s come a long way. As a hematologist-researcher at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (HMR), I work with some of the most critically ill patients. Together with my team and colleagues, we strive to develop treatments that help more people survive, like Florence.
Florence’s case took a dramatic turn after an infection with the virus that causes mononucleosis. Usually, this infection goes unnoticed in childhood or causes only fatigue and swollen lymph nodes during adolescence or adulthood. But in Florence’s case, the virus couldn’t be controlled, it rapidly transformed her immune cells into cancer, an extremely rare phenomenon.
When Florence was urgently transferred to us, her condition was critical. Every minute counted, and our team was deeply concerned. After confirming this rare diagnosis and consulting with local and international specialists, we were able to devise a treatment plan that included intensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant from a healthy donor. To maximize her chances of recovery, Florence also received an experimental therapy, the first of its kind in Canada, involving immune cells from her donor, cultivated in our specialized laboratories and designed to specifically target the virus that had triggered it all.
“The cell therapy process is extremely costly and complex for medical teams. That’s why we turned to our ally, the Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Foundation, submitting an exceptional humanitarian request to support this experimental treatment.”
Dr. Jean-Sébastien Delisle, Hématologue-chercheur à l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont
But none of this would have been possible without donations to the HMR Foundation. We can’t stop here, the challenges ahead remain immense, and we must continue to find new treatments. Every day, patients like Florence need therapies that only your support can make possible.
She survived the unimaginable. How many more lives could we save? Every dollar donated to the HMR Foundation helps defeat disease.
Your support allows our teams to develop new treatments, invest in research, and save lives.
“Eyes are precious. Treating vision is like giving someone a second life. But without research, these miracles wouldn’t be possible.”
“It all started with a drop in blood pressure. They told me, ‘Florence, there’s nothing to worry about.’ But soon after, I developed a high fever, and after several tests, the diagnosis came.”
“I’d faced complications in my previous pregnancies, but I never imagined this one would be so different…”
“At 33, discovering that my kidneys were only functioning at half their capacity was a huge shock.”
“A blood cancer nearly took my life…”