By LeAnn Fickes | Executive Director
Dear friends,
As summer comes to an end, we'd like to thank you for support and ask for your continued support through new seasons of World Child Cancer's project in the Philippines.
Here are a few highlights from the last three months:
World Child Cancer is now supporting four satellite hospitals - in addition to the Southern Philippines Medical Center - treating children with cancer in Mindanao. From 2014 to 2015 there was a 16% percent increase in children helped across the network. This is due to an increase in training local medics at satellite centers, ongoing online trainings by St. Jude's Research Hospital, and increased funding for family support groups, medicines, and other activities. Your support has helped the project grow - thank you.
One child helped this year is Jasmine. 4-year old Jasmine has travelled to the city of Davao, on the island of Mindanao, with her father from the neighboring island of Cebu. As Jasmine had been sick and having difficulties with her sight she was kept in a hammock from a very young age, and as a result was not talking or walking by herself when she arrived at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
She was diagnosed by the local team, led by Dr Mae Dolendo. Once her family knew that she had retinoblastoma and would need her left eye removed to save her life, her mother left and abandoned Jasmine and her father. They are now staying at the House of Hope, which is accommodation that is provided for families who need it at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao. Jasmine has been able to finish her chemotherapy treatment and even start walking and talking. Her and her father are able to access the facilities available at SPMC including psychological support and rehabilitation. It is not the end of Jasmine’s journey, as she will need follow-up treatment to ensure that she stays in remission, and hopefully will also be able to get a prosthetic eye. Her and her father have hugely benefitted from the support at House of Hope, and the holistic care provided to them by the whole team at SPMC. World Child Cancer is funding the development of satellite centers around the island of Mindanao, to improve access to care for children like Jasmine, who often have to travel great distances to reach the care they need.
We truly appreciate your support. As we enter into fall and into the holiday season, we hope you’ll continue to help children with cancer, like Jasmine, in the Philippines. Please share our page with your family, friends, and colleagues and help us reach more children. Thank you!
Best wishes,
LeAnn Fickes
p.s. Please feel free to email me at leann.fickes@worldchildcancer.us if you have any questions or would like to get more involved.
leann.fickes@worldchildcancer.us
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