It’s news that a lot of people have been waiting for.
Tina Boileau, the mother of Russell teen Jonathan Pitre – the famous “Butterfly Child” – has announced that Jonathan’s second stem cell transplant was a success.
In a Facebook post Tuesday evening, Boileau says Jonathan is growing her cells.
“The donor study tests show he has 100% my cells, which means the transplant and engraftment is working!” she said.
“We aren't out of the woods yet - there are still many more hurdles ahead. But every long journey begins with a first step forward. And today, finally, is a big step forward!”
Boileau took Jonathan out of his Minneapolis hospital room for a tour around the hallway to celebrate. He’s had to remain sequestered due to his weakened immune system.
"It's like a dream come true," Boileau told CFRA's "The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll.
"We've never had something this positive happen, because nothing else that we've ever tried has had the potential of being life-changing for him."
The pair underwent the second transplant this spring, after the first attempt last fall didn’t produce the desired results. They’ve been in Minnesota to undergo the treatment in the hopes it can help manage Jonathan’s blistering skin disease, epidermolysis bullosa, which causes the skin to blister and tear, even from minor contact.