(Posted 5:30 p.m., Aug. 22)
Gudbransons celebrate cancer-free anniversary with very special guest
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Dennis Gudbranson hugs the women responsible for saving his life through a bone marrow transplant in August 2005. Agnes flew to Ottawa from her home in Newfoundland to mark the 5th anniversary of the procedure at a special celebration Saturday night. Fred Sherwin/Photo

It's been five years since Dennis Gudbranson received a lifesaving bone marrow transplant. The Chapel Hill South resident was eight-years-old and running out of time having been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Two weeks earlier, and half a country away in a place called Sandy Cove Newfoundland, a woman named Agnes decided to join the bone marrow registry with Canadian Blood Services. Little did she know that she would end up being responsible for saving a young man's life.

As it turned out Dennis and Agnes were a perfect match. On August 18, 2005, Dennis underwent a bone marrow transplant at the Toronto Sick Children's Hospital. Less than a month later he was back home and on his way to a full recovery.

Dennis' case was nothing short of miraculous. Most bone marrow recipients experience a variety of complications, Dennis had only mild complications. The main reason for that was in being able to find a perfect match.

The Gudbranson family found out who their son's bone marrow donor was in August 2008. It took two weeks for Dennis' mother Donna to get up enough courage to call Agnes and thank her for saving son's life. Ever since then the two women have been extremely close.

Donna keeps Agnes informed about Dennis' budding hockey career and his school work, and Dennis calls her every May to wish her a happy Mother's Day.

For cancer survivors the most important anniversary of all falls on the fifth anniversary of their treatment. If a cancer survivor can go five years without remission they are officially declared "cancer free".

Dennis' fifth anniversary was last Wednesday and to celebrate the occasion the Gudbransons planned a small party of about 100 people at the RCMP's Rockcliffe Stables. It soon became apparent, however, that Dennis' story touched a lot more than 100 people, and so the party was moved to École élémentaire publique Le Prélude on Saturday with a very special guest of honour.

Agnes flew to Ottawa last Monday with her two daughters to finally meet the Gudbransons face to face. The reunion was a tearful one, but joyous as well as the two families forever connected by fate learned more about each other.

During yesterday's celebration, Donna and Wayne Gudbranson tried to put into words what Agnes' act of generosity has meant to their family.

"No parent can find words to thank someone enough for saving their child's life. I've always said that I gave birth to Dennis, but Agnes gave him life a second time," said Donna with her husband at her side.

After his emotions got the better of him Wayne Gudbranson took time to thank the hundreds of supporters, volunteers, friends and hospital staff who have supported the family during their ordeal.

"I just want to thank all the people who supported us and helped us from the neighbours who dropped meals off on our door step to the amazing staff at CHEO and the Toronto Sick Children's Hospital," said Wayne. "This party is the culmination of a lot of work done by a lot of people and organizations."

During Dennis' recovery the Gudbranson family have been a mainstay at a variety of CHEO fundraising campaign's. They've also thrown their support behind the Canadian Blood Service's One Match campaign to register bone marrow and stem cell registry.

Brothers Eric and Alex organized the first annual Brotherly Love Ball Hockey Tournament to coincide with the celebration. Eric was recently drafted by the Florida Panthers and Alex was selected by the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL Priority Draft.

Dennis himself will continue to be an inspiration for other cancer patients who have a shining example of success to look toward for hope in their ongoing struggle with the disease.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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