The community heeded the call to save a life and came out in droves for Nancy.
Nancy Taylor is the North Vancouver RCMP volunteer and longtime Lynn Valley resident currently battling leukemia and in desperate need of a life-saving stem cell donor.
On Thursday 141 people from all walks of life turned up to the North Vancouver RCMP detachment, which hosted a stem cell drive in support of Taylor. One man even rode his bike from Richmond just to be tested to see if he was a match. There were other stories of strangers stepping up for the cause, according to North Vancouver RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Richard De Jong.
“There was, believe it or not, a guy whose wife was going into labour and she says, ‘Well, I’m going to be busy for a few hours,’” said De Jong, adding the expectant father spotted the donor drive across the street from Lions Gate Hospital.
Taylor was on hand for two hours during the drive held in an RCMP briefing room-turned-makeshift clinic, to thank those who gave their time and potentially a life-saving gift. She met co-workers, her friends, first responders from across the North Shore and complete strangers.
“It was very emotional for her,” said De Jong. “There were some tears shed over the whole process and everything else. But she has remained very strong and, of course, quite hopeful.”
Taylor wants to live to see her children get married and have kids of their own, and “do so much” she told the News earlier this week.
Being of Dutch and Indonesian descent makes it difficult for Taylor to find a stem cell match, which is why Canadian Blood Services is targeting people of diverse ethnic ancestry, particularly young males between the ages of 17 of 35, the demographic with the healthiest stem cells.
Many young men did show up Thursday, some of them brought in by their mothers, said De Jong. The potential donors swabbed that day have been added to a 26-million-name international OneMatch stem cell and bone marrow registry.
“When you become a potential stem cell donor you can help not only someone in Canada but literally a patient anywhere in the world,” said David Patterson, director of donor relations at Canadian Blood Services.
Taylor’s health struggles resonated with leukemia survivor Boyd Dunleavey, who saw media coverage of her story and wanted to pass along a message of hope.
“Just don’t give up,” said Dunleavey. “Don’t quit.”
Four years ago Dunleavey was diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of acute myeloid leukemia and only given a 10 per cent chance of living. After getting his cancer into remission twice, Dunleavey got the lifesaving call: a stem cell match had been found. Dunleavey’s “perfect” match was a United States Navy serviceman stationed in Japan at the time.
“Sign up. You can save a life,” said Dunleavey of that miracle.
Almost four years after his successful stem cell transplant, Dunleavey has beaten the odds. This spring he will run the Boston Marathon. Dunleavey will be sharing his story during the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Sunday at Deep Cove’s St. Simon’s Anglican Church.
Another stem cell drive, along with a blood donor clinic, will take place Jan. 30 at Carson Graham secondary from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
