A clinical trial at BC Children’s Hospital has transformed the life of Emmett, a two-year-old girl with Nisga’a and Haisla roots, after she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor.
During Lana’s pregnancy, doctors discovered water on the baby’s brain, and a fetal MRI later revealed a mass.
After birth, Emmett was diagnosed with a high-grade glioma, a stage four cancer, caused by a unique genetic alteration.
Her mother, Lena Doolan, says the clinical trial saved her daughter’s life.
The treatment, offered through BC Children’s Clinical Trials Super Hub, targeted the genetic mutation in Emmett’s tumor.
She transitioned to oral medication, enabling the family to return to their community and raise Emmett in her cultural traditions.
Now two years old, Emmett is thriving—singing songs in Haisla and Nisga’a and living a normal childhood.
The Clinical Trials Super Hub at BC Children’s Hospital supports advanced pediatric research, focusing on rare and complex cases.
Dr. Doan, senior executive director, says these trials provide the best evidence for effective treatments, offering hope to families across B.C.
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