Emrik, an energetic, joyful eight-year-old boy has hypogammaglobulinemia. This disease leads to an immunodeficiency characterized by a very low antibody count. Every week since April 2014, both his thighs have been injected with immunoglobulin, a plasma-derived product. His treatments are done at home, and the process lasts 45 minutes to an hour. Very brave, Emrik is accustomed to receiving these injections and keeps busy playing video games while he gets his transfusion.

How does the Héma-Québec Foundation help Emrik?
«Support from the Héma-Québec Foundation helps find people able to donate plasma.»
– Caroline Potvin, Emrik’s mom

Thanks to these treatments, this courageous boy is able to live fully. He loves spending time outside, playing with his older sister Annabelle, biking, snowmobiling and even four-wheeling. He also loves hunting and fishing with his dad. Emrik is lucky to be able to enjoy himself during all these activities, without being constantly afraid that he will get sick. For Emrik, life without treatment would involve extreme fatigue, no energy to get through the day, a loss of appetite and health problems affecting many parts of his body, particularly his lungs and skin. His mother, Caroline Potvin, told us what happened when he went off his treatments for a six-month trial period.