Bo Cooper, a Fort McMurray firefighter who is battling cancer, has an opportunity to take part in Car T-Cell experimental therapy thanks to social media fundraising and Bo’s acceptance for consideration in the Car T-Cell experimental therapy offered by the National Institute of Health Clincal Centre in Maryland. According to a recent Facebook post by the family doctors at the centre have agreed to consider Bo for the therapy. Fort McMurray Fire Department captain and Cooper family spokesman Rob Van Hecke explained the process and said “Today they started taking out the cells that are required to be taken out, but they (still) have to see that they’re going to respond properly. And that takes at least a week before they’ll know for sure that he’s 100% a candidate. There is some caution with this right now.”

Bo Cooper and his family have been hoping that he could participate in Car T-Cell experimental therapy because of the promise that this therapy can hold, however social media fundraising was necessary to help cover costs because Health Canada has not approved these treatments yet in spite of some early signs that the therapy can be successful. According to Timothy Wilson, the spokesperson for Alberta Health, “At this time, (CAR T-cell) treatment is still experimental. It is not approved by Health Canada and there is not enough available evidence showing the treatment is safe or effective. As more evidence is gathered, we will review this treatment and other new treatments emerging.” This could come too late for Bo Cooper though, and the family has raised around $600,000 through social media fundraising to help cover the treatment costs as well as related expenses.