By LeAnn Fickes | World Child Cancer USA Executive Director
Hello friends,
Happy Spring! Thank you so much for supporting World Child Cancer's project in the Philippines. We're only $2,113 from our goal of helping 100 children in the Philippines. Your support has made a big impact; please read on for an update from our project leader, Dr. Mae Dolendo.
Dr. Dolendo sends this message, to thank you and update your on current challenges:
"Childhood cancer is highly curable. Nevertheless, one of its greatest challenge is lack of public awareness and education on its early signs and symptoms and the need to shift the people's health seeking behavior.
Almost 80 percent of the children we see come in late stages of disease. There is often considerable pain and suffering as well as many complications that further increase the cost of care and lessen the chances of cure.
Knowing that child cancer is curable and that there is a facility and team at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMCC) that cares for children with cancer mitigates the many hurdles of care and cure.
Our program provides a venue where people can know more about childhood cancer; where families and communities can participate in inspiring our children and their families; and where we all learn the value of compassion, generosity and life.
As an oncologist taking care of these children, I have been greatly blessed with the joy of using my gifts and talents to help the children fight cancer. More importantly, the relationships born out of trials, tribulations and triumphs with the child, family and team have been a constant source of joy and courage.
We thank the community for wrapping its arms around our families at House of Hope. May you continue to share our journey and help us save every Filipino child with cancer, where we are."
In March, a team from World Child Cancer's UK office visited the Dr. Dolendo at the SPMCC and traveled to all four of World Child Cancer's satellite centers, which provide care for over 300 children with cancer. During their visit, Jon Rosser and Liz Burns were impressed with the child-centered care and treatment children receive and the dedication of Dr. Dolendo and her team. During this visit, Jon and Liz joined organized a party for children, their families, and SPMC staff - complete with a big meal for parents and children, a puppet show, hundreds of balloons, lots of games and presents for every child. Alongside all the mothers joining in enthusiastically, there was a lone father, dancing enthusiastically with his daughter. When he and his daughter arrived – from another island where they had not known how to treat her – she could not speak or walk because she had been left in a hammock permanently because the family did not know how to cope. Her Mom had abandoned her overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. But now here they were Dad and daughter dancing together, her treatment going well and she was running around (though still not very strong) and chatting away. The bond between father and daughter was very obvious. This amazing place had not just treated her cancer, but had given her back a childhood, and let her dad learn the joy of being a father.
Your contributions have helped support treatment costs, train Filipino doctors and nurses, supported travel costs, and helped fund the work of local healthcare professionals to diagnose, treat, and care for children with cancer on the island of Mindanao - thank you. In the first year only 30 children with almost no facilities available. Now 300 children a year are treated and over half survive. It is a colossal achievement of determination and perseverance and the satellite centers, supported by World Child Cancer, will steadily allow those numbers to increase, while reducing the burden of travel for parents. Your continued support will enable World Child Cancer to reach more children, improve survival rates, and ensure that no child suffers.
Please feel free to reach out to me personally with any questions at leann.fickes@worldchildcancer.us. Thank you again for making a difference in the lives of children with cancer.
Best wishes,
LeAnn Fickes, on behalf of all of us at World Child Cancer
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