Help Support Little Louis & His Family Through a Rare Cancer

I’m reaching out to ask for your help supporting my friends Xin and Gordon and their 2½-year-old son, Louis, who was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)—a very rare and life-threatening form of blood cancer that affects only 1 to 4 children per million.

This is a story I wouldn’t be telling if it weren’t necessary—it took some convincing for Xin and Gordon to allow me to share this. They’re not ones to ask for help. But right now, they need it.

In October 2024, what began as a lung infection quickly turned into a nightmare. Bloodwork uncovered something far more serious. Within days, Louis was airlifted from their home on northern Vancouver Island to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. A whirlwind of tests followed: blood panels, a bone marrow biopsy, and genetic screenings. After three months of unanswered questions, the diagnosis finally came—MDS, a severe blood disorder that, if untreated, can evolve into a second cancer: leukemia.

Once doctors determined the cause, Louis was started on an aggressive treatment plan: high-dose chemotherapy to destroy his bone marrow, followed by a bone marrow transplant. At one point, 16 pumps were delivering a complex mix of medications through a central line in his chest. Not all were chemo—some were saline to protect his kidneys, others to prevent liver damage, and others still to manage side effects.

His tiny body endured brutal reactions—fevers, vomiting, rashes, raw skin, and complete loss of appetite. He was fed through a nasal tube. It was an intensive, carefully coordinated effort—every medication, every intervention—designed to give Louis a fighting chance.

Louis spent 33 days in a hospital bed, sometimes too weak to sit or stand. It was agonizing for his parents to watch. Louis’s transplant brought a fragile but vital foothold toward recovery. The initial response has been positive.

Louis’s recovery will be long and carefully managed. His immune system is starting from scratch—it will take at least a year to rebuild, and he’ll require monitoring for life. Crowds and germs are dangerous. For now, the world has to stay at a distance while Louis heals.

Xin and Gordon both work in roles that support children, newcomers, and vulnerable communities. They are kind, humble, and generous people—quiet helpers who never expected to find themselves in this situation. But the costs are piling up:

1. Living expenses in Vancouver while Louis undergoes long-term treatment.

2. Outpatient medications not covered by insurance or Pharmacare, with some small bottles costing $500 to $1,000 each.

3. Travel costs for the many future return trips to Vancouver for follow-up care (appointments will be biweekly, monthly, and then annually for years to come).

4. The family needs financial support while both parents remain focused full-time on Louis’s care and recovery.

5. And meanwhile, the bills at home keep accumulating.

This is a family who has always given quietly. Now they need their community to give back.

If you’re able to donate—thank you. If you can share this with others—thank you. Every contribution makes a real difference in helping Louis heal and giving Xin and Gordon the stability to focus on what matters most: their son.

With love and gratitude,

Leslie