Help Cody Receive Life-Saving Treatment in China

Cody is living with a rare blood plasma cancer called Multiple Myeloma, and has been kept alive for 10 years by treatment advancements and research trials in Canada. Viable options in Canada have run out. The only options available have a low success rate and would require relocating to a city for an indeterminate period of time. The only practical, hopeful treatment option available to Cody now is in China.

Cody and Kelsey have two young daughters and just want the opportunity to live a normal life as two healthy parents. Your donation could make the difference in Cody coming home and living life as a husband and father.

Any amount helps. Please consider donating, to help cover Cody’s treatment costs.

If you would prefer to make an e-transfer, you can do so to the following email address: [email redacted]

The Full Story:

Cody was playing rec hockey in November, 2012 when he took a pretty normal fall on the ice. Despite the fact it was a “nothing” fall, his back felt extremely sore. He wasn’t able to skate again and saw a number of medical professionals until finally, in January of 2013, Cody was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Ultimately, the cancer had already impacted Cody’s spine enough that the fall at hockey had broken his back.

Thus began the Campbell’s long and arduous journey with cancer. Since his original diagnosis in 2013, Cody, Kelsey and their two daughters have endured countless treatments, medical complications and unknowns. As a family, they have thrown themselves into fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society during annual events here in Smithers. They have charged on in life, taking each new treatment, and numerous treatment failures, in stride. This past winter, Cody and Kelsey spent Christmas in hospitals, away from their daughters, in Prince George and Vancouver when Cody’s health took a sudden and unexpected dive.

From the outset, Cody’s doctors told him that the plan was to keep him alive until an effective treatment for his cancer was found. The past ten years have been punctuated by awaiting new medical trials, hoping that Cody’s body responds positively to treatments, managing his pain and side-effects, all while trying to be present, positive and stoic for their daughters, family and community.

Cody’s doctors started talking about Car-T Cell therapy some time ago. It is possible that this treatment will be the answer. The treatment is unavailable in Canada, and thanks to the pandemic, travel to China has been out of the question for years. Finally, Cody and Kelsey have been granted the necessary travel approvals to go to China to try Car-T Cell Therapy. This has been an out-of-reach option for so long, and there are still many unknowns.

Here’s what Kelsey has to say about the treatment: “This CAR-T therapy has been the holy grail of treatment options for a long time for us, and the studies are showing very positive outcomes for Multiple Myeloma patients (much better than any of the treatments he’s had so far). Because of this the stakes are extremely high… if it works as hoped it will be life altering (no more Chemo, for the foreseeable future… maybe ever?!), then there are the what-ifs… what if he can’t get the full treatment? What if it doesn’t take? What if he reacts to it? What if we’re doing all of this for nothing? What if he gets sick before he can get treatment?…Being away from the girls for an extended period, the financial burden and the unknown are top of mind.”

Cody and Kelsey are travelling to Beijing, China this month so that Cody can receive this hopefully life-saving treatment. It is their only option for treating this cancer. They will be in China for up to 3 months and will be paying for the treatment, accommodations, food and travel out of pocket. The costs will be insurmountable without support from their community.

Cody and Kelsey will be apart from their daughters while there, and will be facing many hurdles and unknowns, which also means unknown costs. The Campbell family has already endured so much, and have done it all with incredible courage, positivity and stoicism. They have done so much for their community while facing unimaginable obstacles with Cody’s health. Now is the time to throw all our weight behind the Campbell’s and nourish their sense of hope for a future where Cody can thrive.

Cody and Kelsey have two young daughters, and just want the opportunity to live a normal life as two healthy parents. Your donation could make the difference in Cody coming home and living life as a husband and father.

Any amount helps. Please consider donating, to help cover Cody’s treatment costs.