Today is cold and rainy once again. The weather has been nearly constant rain for over a month with a break in the rain a day here or there. Some areas have been flooded and roads washed away. The Defensa Civil had to tow a monster tour truck out of the river in Monte Llano. One truck crossed the river and the tourists in the second truck wanted to follow so the driver continued. I understand the driver was put in jail for using bad judgment and putting so many peoples lives at risk. It was big news. Because of so much rain the electricity has been out the majority of the time. I guess I shouldn't assume it is because of the rains. The government is continuing to increase the prices of gas, oil and food. The people here are very upset with the government. Gasoline for the car went up again this past weekend. The price of electricity continues to go up but the service has decreased. One woman was saying she went to pay her bill but couldn't because the office didn't have electricity to operate the computer. I heard the exchange rate for the US dollar is about 39-40 pesos for 1 dollar.
I am attaching photos of Anny Anny Martinez and a description of her situation. I have been going to Santiago to meet with the doctor and the staff to get her to Shriner's Hospital in Boston.
Right now the hang up is that I need to find someone in Boston to sponsor or host Anny and her grandmother if the application is accepted. They emailed me and asked if Rainbow Families Foundation is able to do this. For example, Shriner's Boston has a limited number of beds, don't remember how many. Her treatment may take up to 1 year. If a more severe case comes in then somebody may get bumped from the bed. Now she is stable and could live in a home, if necessary. I may contact Rotary International in Boston to see if someone there can help. Also met one lady on vacation here from Boston but must track her down. The doctor is asking if I am able to travel with Anny and her grandmother to Boston.
As for Antonia, she is stable and in the home. Her next appointment with the cardiac pediatrician is 17 December at the Hospital Robert Reid in Santo Domingo.
If she continues to be stable then surgery for the heart valve transplant can be scheduled in March or April. A doctor will come from United States to the Corazones Unidos Hospital or she will be sent to the United States. The doctor said she has performed many heart surgeries but does not feel comfortable with this delicate procedure. The evenings here are very cool, especially in the mountains where Antonia lives so I hope she doesn't get sick with rheumatic fever again and we have a setback. She is a brave little girl.
I was in Santo Domingo with Franklin and his mother and met with the doctor at the “Instituto de Oncologia Dr. Heriberto Pieter”. This was a public institution but the government cut the funding.
Now all the patients must go to the in-house pharmacy and pay for the chemotherapy solution before it is administered. Franklin is 12 years old and was diagnosed with leukemia about a month ago. The hospital did not have the “kit” to determine what type of leukemia he has. The doctor said she will get some kits but the family must pay 2,800 pesos. Then the kit is sent to United States for processing. If he has type “B” then he has 85-90% chance of survival. If he has type “T” then this is more fatal and he will need radiation therapy with a 70% change of survival. His chemotherapy treatment costs 20,000 pesos each month and he will need therapy for 8 months. If he needs a blood transfusion that is another 1,800 pesos. If he needs a bag of plaquetta that is another 13,000 pesos. His treatment is very expensive and I don't know how the family can continue. The doctor explained that many families do not have the resources and the children are sent home to die. Franklin's father is a motoconcho and earns about 3,000 pesos per month. His mother doesn't work. They live in Arroyo de Leche deep into the countryside near Jose Antonio in a small two room house with detached kitchen. His three sisters live in Santiago with their uncle for an opportunity to get a better education in the public schools. Luckily, his mother, Mercedes, has a cousin who lives in Santo Domingo and is willing to let them stay in his apartment with his family through the week when Franklin goes for treatments and checkups on alternating days. Mercedes and Franklin return back to Arroyo de Leche on the weekends. I went to their home and met his father and sisters. Franklin's father gave me an article about St. Judd's Hospital that accepts patients from 57 countries. He asked me to investigate and submit an application. I have not been able to get to the internet café for quite some time so hopefully I can do this after this writing.
In all the cases, this one has been most sensitive for me. As we were watching Franklin get his chemo treatment the young boy in the bed next to him, about 13 years old, was trembling and breaking out in sweat. He was dapping his bald head with ice water trying to cool off. Blood was dripping down the side of his mouth because the chemotherapy treatment dries and blisters the mouth and lips. He was all by himself and I sat on his bed to talk. He was very brave telling me he has been running a high fever for two weeks. He was sent home once but his family brought him back once again. I later talked to the doctor and they were waiting for a blood specialist to come to see him. Many other children in the room layed so fragile and nearly lifeless as they received their chemotherapy treatments.
Jose Antonio continues to do well. He is getting taller and continues to put on weight. His family tells him that I am his second mother because I saved his wife. I have to remind them that it was the effort of many caring people. They are very grateful.
Jacobo and his family are alright. Jacobo continues to suffer from pain in his back and leg. When he receives injections for pain he says it is worse so he stopped.
I think the tremors have stopped, thank goodness! A couple of them were a bit scarry.