After a life-saving stem cell transplant, West Island father urges others to donate

Rick Scalzo with his son, Antoine. (Submitted photo)

A man on Montreal’s West Island says his life was saved by a stem cell transplant.

The donor was his son.

Now, the whole family is urging others in their community to step up and donate.

In 2023, Rick Scalzo was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer.

“I was going to turn 62 in April, so I was young,” he said.

After months of chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission, but a year later, it was back and this time, he would need a stem cell transplant.

“Because they could keep putting me in remission, which means chemo all the time, but it wouldn’t cure me,” said Scalzo.

The search was on for a potential donor anywhere in the world with a 100 per cent match. However, when none were found, doctors turned to Rick’s son, Antoine, who was a 50 per cent match

“As soon as I got the call, it was, immediately, I said yes,” said Antoine. ”It’s definitely a very rewarding feeling. You’re saving a life no matter if it’s your parent or anyone in the world. It’s just a good feeling to know that you’re able to help.”

Antoine says the process was straightforward: one injection per day for the five days leading up to the donation to extract as many stem cells from his bone marrow as possible.

Then, there was the procedure.

“It’s just like giving blood,” said Antoine. “I get a needle in my arm, which extracts my blood into the machine, which will separate what they need, and then the blood comes back into the other room, and it’s 5.5 hours, roughly. Then, he receives it the very next day.”

It’s been 18 months since the transplant and Rick is still in remission.

“The two-year mark is another mark where if you pass it without complications or the leukemia coming back, you’re just about good to go,” he said.

Rick, however, isn’t getting ahead of himself just yet, but is a proud and grateful father.

“It’s a life-changing event, and your son is involved, saving you from drowning kind of thing because you’re going under,” he said. “You need stem cells, and this is what did it, so coming from him, [it’s] pretty neat.”

During his treatment, Rick also received 13 blood transfusions and 29 bags of platelets.

The experience has motivated the entire family to start giving back.

Rick’s daughter Felicia now organizes blood drives for Hema-Quebec in Kirkland.

“We have the opportunity to do something so great, especially because we’re so young,” she said.

“I know a lot of young people could be watching this as well. So, this is just me telling you that it takes like five minutes to donate blood, and it literally saves three lives at a time.”