Mom with cancer finds stem-cell donor

A Toronto mom diagnosed with cancer in February has found a potentially life-saving stem-cell match.

Cathy Anagnostopoulos doesn’t know who came through – but she’s incredibly grateful to the anonymous donor.

“Whoever it is, is a great person,” Anagnostopoulos said.  

Her family agrees.

“I was like running around hugging my brother because I was so happy,” Cathy’s son Gregory said.

The mother of three was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in February. Friends and family organized a massive search for donors, hosting several ‘swabbing’ events in the city.

Everyone who attended swabbed the inside of their mouth and sent the samples to the Canadian Blood Service, through the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network. On Thursday, the call came in that a match had been found.

“I’ve had three rounds of chemo so far, and I’m doing a fourth one…emotionally it has been a roller coaster,” she said.

Anagnostopoulos hopes to receive her transplant in the fall. 

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