Charleigh Pollock's mother reacts to province defunding daughter's treatment
Vancouver Watch
An emotional mother reacts to the news B.C. will not continue funding an expensive drug treatment for her nine-year-old daughter's rare disease.
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CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
Chatham teen defies the odds as family prepares for long-awaited homecoming
A Chatham family is preparing to welcome home their 17-year-old son after a grueling and groundbreaking battle with a rare and aggressive cancer. Ethan Hunter is expected to return home in the coming days after spending the better part of two years in and out of hospitals in London and Toronto, where he became the first person in the world with T-cell lymphoma to respond to a new trial drug. 'It took longer than expected and the kid made history,' said his mother, Shara Hunter. 'So, first person in the world on this trial drug that it worked for T cell. So setting the bar high for everybody, but saving tons more children is Ethan's style.' Ethan was diagnosed in 2022 with lymphoblastic lymphoma, a rare subtype of T-cell leukemia. He experienced a relapse that led to intensive treatment and isolation in hospital, where only his parents could visit and staff took extreme precautions due to his severely compromised immune system. 'His brother and sister haven't seen him since Christmas, so that's huge,' Shara said. 'We couldn't have visitors in Toronto. We were allowed two people like the parents and that's it. We had to mask near him. We had to keep everything clean because his neutrophils and white blood cells were zero.' 062025 - Cancer Ethan's mother, Shara Hunter. (Christopher Campbell/CTV News London) After being transferred from Toronto to London a week ago, Ethan was moved to outpatient care—marking the first real sign of a return to normalcy in nearly two years. 'We have a long road to go, but he's doing well,' said Shara. 'He got transferred a week ago yesterday from Toronto to London. And then he spent a few days in the hospital. Now he's outpatient, so we have very little time before coming home, as early as next week, maybe a couple weeks, but he's coming home. So in preparation for that, we are getting this house ready.' Part of that preparation includes a complete makeover of Ethan's room to reduce allergens and bacteria that could pose a risk to his still-vulnerable immune system. Carpets have been pulled, new flooring put in and construction crews are installing baseboards and cleaning before the family's long-awaited reunion. 'It's a lot,' said Brett Traylor of BWT Renovations and Construction. 'And, it's very, it's very close to my heart as I'm a Shriner as well. So, kids definitely have a soft spot.' 'Next we'll be installing the baseboards, and then, just a nice little general clean and get the room back together,' he added. Shara says the emotional weight of Ethan's return is difficult to put into words. 'I wish you all knew the incredible child and the journey that we've been through. I don't want you to experience it. Ethan has been a brave, brave boy. Now fighting, I believe, was my job. Ethan's journey was just not to give up.' 'Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Toronto doctors were stunned. Toronto doctors said, 'I don't understand your child, and this is all I do.' But that's Ethan for you. And here we are.' She describes him as 'superhuman,' and says his recovery is already having a broader impact. 'He's defied the odds many, many, many, many, many times in the last ten months. This shouldn't have happened, but it did. Ethan is a superhuman. And we are going to celebrate that Ethan is saving many, many, many children after him going through the pain and suffering. So we're going to celebrate that.' The celebration, Shara says, will happen right in their front yard. 'We're going to set up chairs here, and we're gonna have a potluck and celebrate and talk and enjoy all the birthdays and Easter and Christmases that Ethan got to miss.' She's also planning a foundation in Ethan's name to advocate for families facing similar medical journeys. 'When I reflect on all of it, I'm a new person and I'm going big. I'm not done. I'm not done. My goal is to make sure everybody in this country knows my son's name. That's my goal. I'm going to start a foundation to help. I'm not going to give too many details, but there's a lot of gaps in this medical system and not medical per se. Avenues for families. There is a lot of help out there, but there is a lot that's missing.' Although Ethan missed out on school milestones like prom and graduation, his mother says what matters most is that he's alive—and home. 'Graduation for school is not happening, but this is his graduation of life. So we're going to celebrate that.' And while the family is still adjusting to what life after hospital will look like, one thing is already clear for Shara. 'I am relieved. Relieved to have some kind of normalcy of home coming home,' she said. 'Ethan rocked it. Ethan, nothing stops Ethan.'
Globe and Mail
27 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Treatment.com AI Grants Stock Option and RSUs
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AI Inc. (CSE: TRUE, OTC: TREIF, Frankfurt: 939) ('Treatment') announces that it has granted 799,920 restricted share units (' RSUs ') and 162,480 stock options (' Options ') to officers, directors, consultants and employees of the Company. The Options are each exercisable for one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.50 per share for a period of three years from the grant date and vest over a one-year term. 700,000 RSUs are valid for a term of five years and 99,920 RSUs are valid for a term of three years. All RSUs vest over a period of one year from the grant date. All Options and RSUs are subject to the terms of the Company's equity plans and applicable securities law hold periods. Further, the Company announces that it has engaged FN Media Group, LLC (FN Media') to commence a news/media marketing campaign for a one (1) day term during the week of June 23 - June 27, 2025, in consideration of USD$4,295. FN Media shall utilize its proprietary traffic generation application and Google/Yahoo Digital media ads platforms. FN Media does not currently own any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities. FN Media's address is 49 N. Federal Hwy, #281, Pompano Beach, Florida, USA, 33062 (phone: (954) 345-0611, email: patrick@ FN Media and its directors and officers are arm's length from the Company. About AI Inc. AI is a company utilizing AI (artificial intelligence) and best clinical practices to positively improve the healthcare sector and impact current inefficiencies and challenges. With the input of hundreds of healthcare professionals globally, AI has built a comprehensive, personalized healthcare AI engine — the Global Library of Medicine (GLM). With more than 10,000 expert medical reviews, the GLM delivers tested clinical information and support to all healthcare professionals as well as providing recommended tests (physical and lab), imaging and billing codes. The GLM helps healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses or pharmacists) reduce their administrative burden; creates more time for needed face-to-face patient appointments; and enables greater consistency in quality of patient support. AI's GLM platform, through supporting healthcare professionals, allows for the inclusion of disenfranchised communities.
CTV News
34 minutes ago
- CTV News
Federal Appeal Court grants B.C. ostriches stay of cull pending review
Supporters of Universal Ostrich Farms stand near ostriches at the farm's property in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens The Federal Court of Appeal has granted a stay that pauses the potential cull of nearly 400 ostriches at a B.C. farm. Court records show that a motion to pause plans for the cull, pending an appeal, was granted this afternoon in Ottawa. The owners of Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., have been fighting an order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cull their flock after it was hit with an avian flu outbreak last year. Katie Pasitney, whose mother co-owns the farm, thanked supporters in a post on social media, saying the 'next phase of the battle' will allow the farm to push forward for change. The plight of the ostriches has brought international attention to the farm, with protesters staying on the property to prevent the cull and activists decrying what they call government overreach. The food inspection agency has said the type of avian flu infection present at the farm is a mutation not seen elsewhere in Canada. This report by Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press, was first published June 20, 2025.
