Last Saturday I returned home from my 3 weeks of treatment in Michigan, I feel a lot better and don’t know exactly what’s to come in the next few weeks just yet.  This Monday I repeated a Bone Marrow Biopsy so that we can see what’s going on with my situation and what we need to do from here.  I’ll be meeting with my doctor in Rochester on Monday where he will have all the results and we’ll discuss what needs to be done from here as far as treatment goes.  I’ll have all the info updated monday night, which will include how I’m doing as far as my AML, where we need to go from here and if necessary my full treatment schedule.

Here is a picture of Wes receiving treatment last week at Dr. Fata’s office in Clarkston MI. The treatments went for 6 hours a day 5 days a week. We would like to thank Dr. Fata and his staff at Rochester as well as the Clarkston offices. Wes has currently been admitted to the Crittenton hospital in Rochester MI where he will undergo further treatment.

Thanks for everyone’s support.

- Laporte Family

Unfortunately I found out last Friday that my MDS has now progressed into Acute Leukemia. I’ll be an out patient for this week. Which means I’ll drive to Michigan everyday, get 9 hours of Chemo and then come home. But at the end of this week I’ll be admitted to the hospital there and be hanging around there for what sounds like awhile.

Also I would like to thank Rob and Kristen Haglund and their staff at Boston Pizza for their Pizza/Pasta Luncheon.  On the note of thanking people I also want to thank the staff at QSS and really appreciate all the support and what they’ve done for me.

We will be at the Elvis Concert at the Cleary this Friday Oct.9 from 7-10. Look forward to seeing you there.

Wes Laporte and family would like to thank everyone, friends, family and their communities for their overwhelming support and kindness at both fundraising events that where held this past weekend.  Both events were a huge success.  A total of $11,033 was raised.

The family wants to put out a special thanks to Patti, Rick, Paris and Ricky Saruna and Body and Mind. Al Fazio, his staff and Mr.Biggs. Jerry and Colleen Marentette, all the members of Power Pit Gym, their families and the K of C.  Thanks again to you, your volunteers and the community for making this all possible.

I also want to thank: Ecumedical, everyone that came out to either event, my friends for working so hard to organize and make the event possible and Chantelle Cannon, Rick Rock and Ashley Coulter for performing.

My aunt Heather has decided to run the Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon on my behalf.  She will be accepting any pledges and donations in support of the Wes Laporte Foundation.  The marathon will be October 18th and is 42.2km or 26.2 miles long.  Were asking for any donations or pledges in order to help support the Wes Laporte Foundation.  Any support would be greatly appreciated.

For further information you can contact me (WesLaporte@hotmail.com) or visit (torontomarathon.com)

October 3rd from 12 p.m – 2 p.m Boston Pizza on Manning Road will be having a dinner involving Pizza, Pasta and Salad all for the price of 10$.  For ticket info please contact myself (weslaporte@hotmail.com) or (519) – 728 – 0347

Other reminders

K of C Pasta Dinner and Eucher Tournament – Sept 25th, starts at 5 p.m

Mr. Biggs Steak Dinner – Sept 26th, starts at 5:30 with Dinner at 6 p.m – Featuring: Ashes (Ashley Coulter)

A big round of thanks to those who donated monies, gifts, & labor towards this event!

The day was absolutely gorgeous, sunny, warm & FUN, FUN FILLED! ‘The FOOLS FOR MEDICINE’ clown troop otherwise known as ‘Trixie the clown & friends’ were very funny & created quite a few laughs for the golfers that day (Thanks Trixie & Diva). The big gorilla out front of the golf course with the “help Wes Laporte” logo attracted a lot of attention all the past week from passerby’s and neighbors to the club. The course at Willow Creek was in great shape & allowed for a very fun, family atmosphere. All there were definitely a part of the Laporte Family & in support of them as well. Mr. Laporte (Brian), Mrs. Laporte ( Maureen), Mathew (brother) & the Star himself, Wes Laporte were there to share in the festivities, and FUN & let us not forget the great dinner; everybody wants the name of the caterer. Wes even managed to get a few holes of golf in with his friends. Again thanks to the donators as the prize table was filled. And the fund raiser event was very successful to the “HELP WES LAPORTE CAMPAIGN”.

Keep your attention on the www.helpweslaporte.com web site as there are more fun events planned for the Wes Laporte Trust Fund. Go Wes!

Here are some pictures taken at the Labour Day weekend tournament.

There will be 2 up-coming dinners held to support me

The First one will be a Pasta dinner held on September 25th at the KofC and the dinner will run from 5-8 p.m.  Tickets will be $15.  For any further information you can contact either myself weslaporte@hotmail.com or Jerry Marentette at (519)-727-6096.

The Second one will be a Steak dinner held on September 26th at Mr.Biggs and the dinner will start at 5 p.m.  Tickets are $25.  For more information you can contact me directly at weslaporte@hotmail.com

Hope to see everyone there, thanks

By SHARON LEM, SUN MEDIA

Wes Laporte just graduated from high school and was training to become an Olympic weightlifter when his world started to unravel in June.

The 18-year-old student from Belle River, Ont., near Windsor, was accepted by Dalhousie University to study kinesiology when doctors diagnosed him with myleodysplastic syndrome (MDS) — a blood disease causes ineffective production of blood cells that can turn into cancer.

He was told he needed a bone marrow transplant.

“It didn’t really bother me until I couldn’t do anything. I’m not able to do any physical activity, so it sucks,” Laporte said.

Laporte’s family was not a match. His best chance of finding a match would come from someone of French-Canadian and British ancestry. However, the odds of finding a match are one in 5,000.

“Unless you’re in a family that’s directly affected, the odds are you won’t be tested for the registry because you don’t really realize how much someone needs a bone marrow match,” Laporte said.

He is now receiving three blood transfusions a week. For the past few weeks, Laporte has been travelling to the Michigan Cancer Center in Rochester, Mich., to receive the drug Vidaza, which is not available in Canada.

Ecumedical Resources International is paying for Laporte’s Michigan treatment of $50,000 to $75,000 for four months.

Ecumedical is a charity which helps Canadians to find medical care in the U.S.

For information on becoming a donor, go to onematch.ca or call Canadian Blood Services at 1-888-236-6283.

SHARON.LEM@SUNMEDIA.CA