Help Cancer Patients Pay for Travel Expenses!

In our last report we shared Yulia's story.  She is a young expectant mom who is undergoing cancer treatment in Germany at the same time.  Recently, Yulia told us that in about a month she is scheduled to deliver her baby.  As soon as she feels well enough, she will be re-evaluated and further treatment strategy will be determined.  She cannot wait to meet her son and shared a few of her new pictures with us.  Yulia also asked to express her gratitude for support and care at this difficult time in her life.  Thank you so much!

Another mom who needs our help is Anna, a 39 year-old woman from St Petersburg, Russia.  She has two lovely children. During her second pregnancy in 2012 she was diagnosed with melanoma. After her daughter was born, she had a surgery to remove the tumor from her back. Unfortunately, in 2015 she relapsed, with cancer spreading to her brain, lungs and abdomen. Anna traveled to Israel for a consultation with a melanoma expert, and she was recommended immunotherapy. The medication is innovative and very effective, but also very expensive and not certified in Russia. While in Israel, Anna received 4 cycles of therapy, which cost her family a lot of money. Fortunately, a compassionate use program for this drug opened in Belgium, and Anna was able to enroll in it and receive the medicine for free. A recent examination confirmed that therapy worked well. The majority of metastases had decreased or disappeared without a trace and Anna has a chance for a full recovery! The doctors recommend her to continue the therapy for as long as she benefits. Although Anna receives the medication for free, she still has to cover the cost of travel and lodging, and she asked for our help. 

Thanks again for your support!  And save the date for the Bonus Day on June 15th.  On that day, your donation will get a 50% match from GlobalGiving - a great opportunity to help even more patients.  Hope you can join us!

Yulia is a young woman from a Siberian city of Barnaul. After graduating from college she worked at politology department of a local university.  But in January 2015 she started having pelvic pains. After seeing several specialists and having numerous tests that stretched for several months, she was discovered to have a mailignant tumor in her pelvis. However, the local oncologists lacked experience and equipment to perform necessary surgery. Yulia was referred to a federal cancer center in Moscow. In July 2015 she was finally operated. The surgery was very extensive and lasted 11 hours. Some of the nerves on Yulia's right leg were affected, and she now has to walk with support. Unfortunately, a few months after the surgery the cancer returned and metastasized to Yulia's spine. At that point none of the hospitals in Russia agreed to admit Yulia.  She managed to travel to Germany where she is currently receiving chemotherapy, which needs to be followed by highly accurate proton radiation treatment. Recently, Yulia discovered that she is in the early stages of pregnancy. She was happy to hear the news, but concerned for her unborn child.  At this time, she has to rely entirely on help of her friends and the kindness of strangers to pay for her treatment, childbirth expenses, and lodging in Germany.  Our project will transfer the funds raised in March for Yulia's living expenses, and we will greatly appreciate your support.

On Wednesday, March 16th, starting at 9 am EDT and until midnight, all donations to our project will receive a bonus from GlobalGiving!  This is a great opportunity to increase your impact and provide more help for Yulia and patients in similarly difficult circumstances.  I hope you will join us on that day.  Thanks again for all your support for us!