In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Émilie Sansfaçon lost her fight against cancer. His last wish: that his father develop a way to quickly identify immunosuppressed people. A year and a half later, the “Immunoclip”, a small patch designed to be attached to a mask or clothing, is beginning to carve out a place for itself in Quebec.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
“My daughter is behind this project. It is in his memory, ”said his father, Louis Sansfaçon, immediately, moved.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Emilie Sansfaçon and her father, Louis Sansfaçon
Her 31-year-old daughter battled colorectal cancer for 18 months. Afraid of contracting COVID-19, she had asked her father to develop a tool to inform people of their condition with a simple glance.
On October 26, 2020, Émilie and her father concocted the prototype of the Immunoclip, a pin in the shape of an “i”, for “immunosuppressed”. The crest warns others that the person wearing it is more vulnerable to viruses and that you must be vigilant, in particular by observing a distance of two meters from them. “It’s a banal idea, but it protects people like Émilie and many other people in the population,” he says.
A week after the development of the prototype, the young woman died. “She wanted at all costs to find ways to protect herself. I offered it to her, but unfortunately, she never saw it, ”drops her father.
An effective accessory
Sylvain Walravens is one of those who proudly wear the Immunoclip. In recent years, the 44-year-old has developed three autoimmune diseases, which have brought him close to death on two occasions. Since the start of the pandemic, he has had to be hospitalized four times for complications and has undergone major bowel surgery.
I always wear the clip, either on my mask or on my coat. It should really be better known, especially with the reduction in measures.
Sylvain Walravens, immunosuppressed
The easing of health restrictions is of concern to Mr Walravens. ” I’m afraid. It worries me, the withdrawal of measures, because the virus is still running. I will be very exposed. Quebec recently announced that wearing a mask would end no later than mid-April in public places, thus becoming a “personal choice”.
“Will all those whose health has been weakened by life be looked at askance, judged or stigmatized because they want to keep this protection that is the mask and the distance? he asks himself.
The fight continues
Mr. Walravens recalls that for people at risk, “the fight is not over”. “We are relaxing the measures, but we are still vulnerable. He hopes that wearing the badge will make the people he meets more benevolent.
Mr. Sansfaçon agrees. “The pin allows you to tell others that I need to be protected and that I must continue to wear the mask,” says Émilie’s father, who is himself immunosuppressed, since he is battling cancer of the bone.
The person who is immunosuppressed and who will have to wear a mask, while the others do not wear one, will not want to constantly explain themselves.
Louis Sansfaçon
The “i” will help them be accepted by others, he hopes.
The Immunoclip can be purchased on the website of the CHU de Québec Foundation, the Association of Immunodeficient Patients of Quebec or the Quebec Cancer Foundation. It can also be found in certain Brunet pharmacies in the Quebec region.
The profits from the sale of the badges will be invested in the development of the “Chambres d’Émilie”, ie the development of more comfortable rooms for sick patients, indicates Amélie Deschênes, communication advisor at the CHU.