Archer Franklin, 17, is in need of a bone marrow transplant. (Facebook/Humboldt Broncos U18 AA)

By Teena Monteleone

stem cell transplant

Sask teen in need of bone marrow donor

Jul 3, 2023 | 2:00 PM

The hockey community in Humboldt is once again banding together to help a fellow hockey player in need.

Archer Franklin, a member of the 2022-23 U18 AA Humboldt Broncos has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare bone marrow disease. The condition leaves you fatigued and more prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding.

“His bone marrow is empty. It’s not producing any platelets. It’s not producing any neutrophil and his other blood cells are low – so he’s not making any of that so he’s had to have blood transfusions. He’s been in the hospital a month and every couple of days he needs a platelet transfusion,” said his mother Karri Franklin.

There are some treatments to manage the aplastic anemia symptoms.

“He is supposed to start therapy that has some immunosuppressant and bone marrow stimulants to hopefully help his bone marrow come back a bit and produce, but the only cure is a bone marrow transplant.”

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So far, there are no donors that match Archer’s bone marrow type.

The family and the Broncos reached out on social media, asking the public between the ages of 17 and 35, to considering joining the Canadian Blood Services registry as a stem cell donor. It only takes a simple cheek swab to determine if there is a match.

“Archer knows this may not find him a match, but there are lots of people waiting for a transplant, so maybe this could end up helping someone else,” Franklin said. “Right now there are a thousand people in Canada waiting for a match, so anyone who signs up could help.”

The Canadian Blood Services website said there are certain health criteria that determine if someone is eligible for stem cell donation:

“The criteria is created to protect the long-term health of both donors and patients. Additionally, patients who need a stem cell transplant are more likely to find a matching donor among those who share their ethnic ancestry.”

Kevin Henry, head coach of the Humboldt U18 AA team said if anyone can face a challenge, its Archer.

“Archer is very self-motivated and a typical small town Saskatchewan player who would text me about what he could do better and then head to the local rink in Preeceville to work on it.

The hockey world is small but I’m praying a donor can be found. I know the Franklins will stay positive and Archer will continue to work hard in anything he faces,” said Henry. “The Franklins are a big part of the Broncos family in Humboldt.”

A link to the stem cell donor registry can be found here.

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MonteleoneTeena