Sask. man off to Malaysia for stem cell treatment

A 28-year-old North Battleford man plans to head to Malaysia next month for a stem cell treatment he hopes will cure his debilitating liver disease.

Kyle Allan is able to pay for the trip thanks to the success of a gofundme.com campaign, which rocketed past its $25,000 goal in just one week.

As of Monday, he'd raised $61,425.

"It was mind blowing," Allan said.

His girlfriend, Valerie Blais, who set up the campaign, had no idea it would do so well and had even expected to do additional fundraising.

"It's completely overwhelming. It shows so much love and support from people in our lives and the community," she said.

When Allan was about three years old, he repeatedly contracted pneumonia and other infections, and was diagnosed with Common Variable Immunodefiency, for which no cure has been identified.

He previously received an IV treatment once a month, which has now increased to once per day. Growing up, he was often tired and didn't have as much energy as other children, but as he got into his teens he improved.

"I was pretty much a normal kid," he said.

He became a welder and worked in Fort McMurray, then got his journeyman qualifications at SIAST. He was about to head back north when, on Aug. 18, 2008, he couldn't get out of bed.

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Sask. man off to Malaysia for stem cell treatment