Stem cell donor gives Manitoba man extra life [Video]

A father of three and school principal from Carman, Man., said a generous stem cell donor help move him from palliative care to remission.

In March 2020, Jack Phillips noticed a lump on his neck.

“When I went to see the nurse practitioner a couple of days later, I had a pretty good idea it was some sort of cancer.”

Jack was originally diagnosed with marginal zone b lymphoma, and months of chemotherapy followed. But in Sept. 2021, doctors became concerned over his blood counts and diagnosed him with a different cancer – chronic lymphocytic leukemia, along with a rare complication called a Richter’s transformation, which made it incredibly aggressive.

“We were told at the time I have a 20 per cent chance of living the year, provided I get a stem cell transplant,” he said.

Stem cell transplants are often the last option for cancer patients like Jack, who …