Jean Church

Stem Cells – A Revolution in the Making

Before scientists fully understood stem cells, cancer patients were receiving bone marrow transplants to re-grow healthy immune systems. As research and knowledge grows, doctors now know that these transplants, or stem cell replacements, were among the first steps in a journey that could potentially revolutionize medicine. People like Jean Church are benefiting from this procedure, which has helped move stem cell research forward.

In January 2004, at the age of 68, Jean Church was running out of options. Rounds of chemotherapy to wipe out the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma spreading throughout her body weren’t working. But her mental and physical strength convinced Ottawa Hospital doctors that she was a candidate for a bone marrow transplant, even though the age cut-off is usually 50.

“I knew there was a chance I could die, but I also knew this was the most incredible opportunity of my life. I thought ‘Wow, I’ve got a chance’,” says Jean.

First, doctors removed a sample of her bone marrow. She then underwent four days of strong chemotherapy to wipe the lymphoma from her body. As this procedure also kills the body’s stem cells, these cells had to be replaced using the bone marrow harvested earlier. But Jean’s bone marrow contained both lymphoma cells and stem cells. Doctors used advanced techniques to separate out and purify the healthy stem cells, which were then transplanted into Jean’s bloodstream to begin regenerating healthy platelets, white and red blood cells.

Now cancer-free, Jean feels incredibly lucky: “We’re so blessed to have this care in our backyard. I would do it again in a heartbeat, it gave me back my life—and more.”