Hello,
Unfortunately I am posting this because my 24 year old cousin (Yera Nunez), was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma about 3 months ago and has recently started chemotherapy here in Santiago at the Instituto Oncologico. I grew up quite close to her and she has a 4 year old daughter that has just begun colegio in La Vega. She has been traveling back and forth to Santiago about 4 times a week with her visits with Dr. Edward Valdez who is an oncologist at Centro Medico Cibao. The reason I am posting this is because I have chosen to take a part in helping Yera financially throughout her treatment as best I can. We have done our best to find generic alternatives for some of her medications which has been a huge help (Prednisone 50mg generic is 5 pesos a pill while the brand name was 143 pesos per pill, it's robbing the dying honestly), but some of the medications that she is required to take are out of the family's budget and it's hard to decide which are priorities in some cases (Some patients actually have to choose between which medications they can afford and which are out of reach, this is what happens when laboratories place huge premiums on medications and people can't afford them).
I want to reiterate I am not posting this for any type of direct financial help or donations, I wouldn't even want to get into that sort of thing. What I am looking for is foundations or charities in the DR that can help a young single mother that is diagnosed with cancer with any of the associated costs that chemotherapy and the medications include. For example, one series of injections that she was prescribed to raise your red blood cell count was 10,000 pesos per injection and it's a series of 12 injections. I simply can't afford to help her to this level, and I damn sure wish I could.
Well, a little background about why I care so much.. I lost my brother to non hodgkin's lymphoma in 2004 and I actually was such a moron back then that when he called me to say goodbye one last time I refused to talk to him.. I was 18 and have regretted that for quite some time. I lost my sister in April of this year and she was actually found to have ovarian and small cell neoplasms in her intestine so it's quite personal. I hate cancer and recently I really wish I would have finished medical school instead of dropping out my last year so I could make a more hands on approach to help. As most on DR1 and in Santiago who know me, I am not one to go about sharing my emotions or asking for other people's assistance, but in this case it could literally be life or death for her as I have seen the effects of people who aren't able to put together the money for overpriced medications that there are no more reasonably priced alternatives for.
In conclusion, if anyone has any suggestions for charities/foundations/government agencies who might be able to take a look at my cousin's situation, I would gladly appreciate it and hope everyone has a fine Saturday.
Unfortunately I am posting this because my 24 year old cousin (Yera Nunez), was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma about 3 months ago and has recently started chemotherapy here in Santiago at the Instituto Oncologico. I grew up quite close to her and she has a 4 year old daughter that has just begun colegio in La Vega. She has been traveling back and forth to Santiago about 4 times a week with her visits with Dr. Edward Valdez who is an oncologist at Centro Medico Cibao. The reason I am posting this is because I have chosen to take a part in helping Yera financially throughout her treatment as best I can. We have done our best to find generic alternatives for some of her medications which has been a huge help (Prednisone 50mg generic is 5 pesos a pill while the brand name was 143 pesos per pill, it's robbing the dying honestly), but some of the medications that she is required to take are out of the family's budget and it's hard to decide which are priorities in some cases (Some patients actually have to choose between which medications they can afford and which are out of reach, this is what happens when laboratories place huge premiums on medications and people can't afford them).
I want to reiterate I am not posting this for any type of direct financial help or donations, I wouldn't even want to get into that sort of thing. What I am looking for is foundations or charities in the DR that can help a young single mother that is diagnosed with cancer with any of the associated costs that chemotherapy and the medications include. For example, one series of injections that she was prescribed to raise your red blood cell count was 10,000 pesos per injection and it's a series of 12 injections. I simply can't afford to help her to this level, and I damn sure wish I could.
Well, a little background about why I care so much.. I lost my brother to non hodgkin's lymphoma in 2004 and I actually was such a moron back then that when he called me to say goodbye one last time I refused to talk to him.. I was 18 and have regretted that for quite some time. I lost my sister in April of this year and she was actually found to have ovarian and small cell neoplasms in her intestine so it's quite personal. I hate cancer and recently I really wish I would have finished medical school instead of dropping out my last year so I could make a more hands on approach to help. As most on DR1 and in Santiago who know me, I am not one to go about sharing my emotions or asking for other people's assistance, but in this case it could literally be life or death for her as I have seen the effects of people who aren't able to put together the money for overpriced medications that there are no more reasonably priced alternatives for.
In conclusion, if anyone has any suggestions for charities/foundations/government agencies who might be able to take a look at my cousin's situation, I would gladly appreciate it and hope everyone has a fine Saturday.