'Blood siblings' share story of thanks
![Chris and Sue Chris Smith (right) and Sue Vanvolkingburgh (left) share a hug at Smith's son's restaurant in Wasaga Beach on Jan. 21, 2024 (Catalina Gillies/CTV News).](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/1/21/chris-and-sue-1-6735985-1705878001044.png)
A stem cell donor reunited with the recipient of his donation on Sunday to mark their 20th anniversary since the donation.
Barrie resident Chris Smith donated his stem cells to Ottawa resident Sue Vanvolkingburgh in 2003. Vanvolkingburgh was diagnosed with a blood disorder that causes the body to stop producing new blood cells.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
She needed a sibling match or an anonymous donor, and Smith was the perfect match. They met at a Canadian Blood Services event two years later and have remained close friends. They call each other "the blood siblings" and say their bond was entirely unexpected.
"I've been a donor of blood. I've given over 100 units of blood over the years, and I never got to meet any of those people, so I just looked at it as the same thing," said Chris Smith, who donated his blood to Vanvolkingburgh. "This is a real bonus, and it's almost like family now because we do a lot of things together and communicate together."
Vanvolkingburgh decided to surprise Smith on Sunday at his son's restaurant in Wasaga Beach.
"When this day approached, I realized how very lucky and blessed I am," she said. "It's quite actually overwhelming to just realize how lucky I am to have these people in my life and to have had the opportunity to live healthy for 20 extra years."
Both Smith and Vanvolkingburgh encourage anyone to sign up to be a donor.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976654.1721864632!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: Wildfire reaches southern outskirts of townsite
One of two wildfires threatening the townsite in Jasper National Park has reached the southern outskirts of the Alberta Rockies community.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden says he ended re-election bid to unite party
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.
Wildfire north of Calgary prompts evacuation alert, highway closures
A wildfire is prompting evacuations and highway closures north of Calgary.