If you follow this blog you've might have come across some fundraising and donations I have been involved with to help a young child successfully battle cancer (Stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma). The little one is the 2-year-old daughter (Ava is her beautiful name) of one of my work colleagues, and even though I haven't met any of the involved personally (it's difficult within a global company of more than two thousand employees) I couldn't help but relate deeply to their story (as a father of two and as a person).
For those who don't know much about her disease I decided to transcribe here the words of those that have been involved in her fundraising from the very beginning, in hope that I can at least find one person who can help her reach the appropriate treatment.
"A neuroblastoma
is a very rare, very aggressive form of childhood cancer. Sadly, Ava’s cancer is very
aggressive also, and it has spread all across her little body. Ava has a primary
tumour in her abdomen, located in the adrenal gland above her left kidney. She
also has several other tumours in her bones, her bone marrow, as well as in her
blood and lymphatic system.
Ava
has already started treatment; but she has a very long way to go (approx. 2
years). The hope is after this point she will go into remission…. However; the
rates of relapse following remission are high (approx. 75%). Unfortunately, 75%
who then relapse, the survival rates are very low second time. But let’s not
focus on the negatives; let’s focus on the hope.
Memorial
Sloan Kettering hospital in New York have been trialling a drug which has had
brilliant results with keeping children cancer free for years longer than
before (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00911560)
this drug is used on patients who are in remission with Neuroblastoma.
Unfortunately, the cost of the treatment is astronomical.
This
means that her family need to raise funds to enable Ava to have this
treatment.
No
child should ever have to go through this, so if you would like to help in any
way it would be truly appreciated.
How
can I help, you ask….
- Donate to the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/jupcnf-avas-journey
- Like and Share Ava’s Facebook page to spread the awareness: https://www.facebook.com/Avasneuroblastomajourney/
Thank
you for taking the time to read this". If you need further information access here.
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