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“From last week to this week, he’s not the same kid,” Boileau said.

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In a brief interview Wednesday from his hospital bed, Pitre told the Citizen that he’s “OK.” His voice was tremulous, and he took quick, shallow breaths between short bursts of words.

“I don’t know how I turned it around, I just did,” said Pitre, who will turn 17 this Friday. “I just stayed positive. I tried to direct the cells in my body.”

Asked about the improving condition of the skin on his back, Pitre said, “It’s encouraging. But I still have some work to do.”

Last week at this time, Pitre was in a perilous state. Although his stem cell transplant had taken root in his bone marrow and was producing white blood cells, his kidney and liver function were so poor that he had become confused and hallucinatory: He believed some of his nurses were trying to hurt him. Part of his large intestine had become inflamed, and he couldn’t eat or drink.

His blood pressure fell dangerously and doctors told him he would be moved to the intensive care unit unless he maintained his levels. They wrote the numbers on a blackboard in his room.

Boileau said her son seemed to will himself to keep the numbers at the required level.

“I think we just need to set goals for this kid,” said his mother, laughing. “We’re not even close to saying we’re coming home, but he’s showing day in and day out how strong and resilient he is. He’s so tough.”

So far, there has been no sign of graft-versus-host disease, which is among the most dangerous complications after someone receives stem cells from a donor.