Abu Dhabi, UAE: The clock is ticking for one Abu Dhabi family, with only a week left to find almost Dh100,000 for a life-saving bone marrow transplant for their daughter.
Sarah-Jean Masinas, 20, who lives in Abu Dhabi, was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia (AML) in 2010 when she returned to her home-country of the Philippines to study radiology.
Her parents have seven days to raise Dh91,000 to meet the Dh900,000 they need for a transplant in Sweden — the only cure available.
Sarah’s mother, Rosalie Masinas, said it was critical to get the transplant as soon as possible because AML was so aggressive and quick-moving.
Her daughter began her 10th round of chemotherapy yesterday (Sunday) to deplete her bone marrow.
The timing was also critical as doctors had recommended Sarah did not do any more chemotherapy due to the impact on vital organs, and they did not want to lose the donor match they had been seeking for almost a year and had been unable to find in India or Taiwan.
A doctor at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi, where Sarah has been since last August, rang a colleague at Uppsala Hospital in Sweden, who was able to find a match. The family must show they have paid the hospital costs to get a visa from the Swedish Embassy on June 23.
The UAE does not have transplant facilities.
Masinas said when she first found out about her daughter’s diagnosis, she was very “depressed”, especially given she had just lost her job.
“Sarah told me ‘don’t spend a lot of money for me because I have leukemia and I will die, and then you will drown in debt’.
“I said no. Whose mother would let their children die, without taking any chance they could?”
Sarah returned to the UAE, where her chemotherapy was covered under insurance. She went into remission in 2011, but the cancer returned in 2012.
Her parents, who earn Dh7000 a month between them, have been fundraising since, and said it was “incredible” what strangers had done.
Donations included Dh100,000 donation from her workplace, Lifeline Hospital Mussafah in Abu Dhabi, Dh150,000 from Friends of Cancer Patients in Sharjah, and Dh25,000 from a friend.
Tonight (Monday), The Gramercy’s Charity Auction Night is being hosted by Virgin Radio’s DJ Kris Fade to raise the remaining funds.
“I didn’t know how to even begin to raise this amount of money, but people in the UAE are really generous.
“Sarah is a good fighter. She serves as an ambassador of hope … if there are patients who are newly diagnosed or admitted, and they are feeling distressed then (staff) will call Sarah so she can talk to (the patients).”
The transplant will take place in July and Sarah will remain for a 100-day critical period to see if her body accepts the new stem-cells.
Sarah-Jean said she was nervous about possible complications but looking forward to being well and studying again.
She is now planning on a psychology career, with the aim of helping patients like herself, given she cannot risk being exposed to more radiation.
The keen singer, who has posted a number of videos of herself singing on Facebook to thank her donors, said the worst part had been knowing her survival depended on finances.
“But people have been very generous… I feel very blessed… and that’s what’s keeping me positive.”
To donate see: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/sarah-jean-s-bone-marrow-transplant-fund/55214
© Khaleej Times
Twitter