Hello,
A brief update on Zoe, the 8-month-old baby that was taken to the hospital.
Unfortunately, Zoe’s still in the ICU, and has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on the stem of her brain. There still remains more diagnosis as to which of two varieties it is (a more aggressive or a lesser), and she continues to experience periodic seizures.
From my understanding, the doctors are stuck between a rock and hard place in that Zoe is very young for chemo or radiation, but surgical removal of such tumors can be life-threatening, if not impossible. Isidro has been told that his daughter will have serious development problems, if she does survive the very high risk surgery. And if it’s the aggressive type of cancer, survival rates for children aged 5-9 (the typical age range when this rare cancer shows up - there are 300 cases in the US a year) is only 18 months. I don’t know what they projects to for an 8-month-old. But my understanding right now is they’re looking at surgery soon. The next few days will be for big decisions.
So, it’s a stunning, challenging and sad time for the family. Isidro has returned from the city to get back to work at the hotel, while Karina has returned to Quito with a bag of clothes. She’ll be staying in the hospital, using the bathroom there (there might be some shelter there, though the hospital is always maxed out.) Liam doesn’t know what’s going on, and seems to not be stressed out about his mother not being around, though he’s also battling a chest cough.
At the same time, a group of people have mobilized to raise the funds that the family needs, that I’m a part of. A raffle is being organized and there are already over 30 prizes donated. I’ve helped with my technical skills to put together an organizational spreadsheet, ways for everyone to share things easily, and a publicity flyer. We just had a meeting tonight.
Costs so far have been over $1000, and the good thing is that the children’s hospital in Quito is public, meaning that all treatment is now free. However, it’s missing an MRI machine, so she will have to have that done in another hospital out of pocket. The simplest MRI is about $250, but with a complicated situation inside the brain, a more expensive test at about $800 would be better. Also, there will be additional costs for any medication, for staying in and traveling to and from Quito, and potentially any follow-up costs.
There will be a raffle here on August 20. I will soon setup a fundraiser to join with these efforts, and you will be invited at that time to consider joining in with the community to support Zoe and her family. I want to wait a little bit and see how things progress here first, so that I have a better idea about how much is needed.
I also want to have this fundraiser be part of a larger one, essentially asking people to join in creating a “tank” of money to be used throughout the year to join with local communal solidarity efforts here. Rather than setting up multiple fundraisers and inviting people over and over to join throughout the year, I’ve had the idea for a while of asking just once a year, but for more than one cause - in fact to have a store for a variety of efforts that may come up throughout the year. Donors would always be kept up to date as usual, and I’d find ways to join with the solidarity efforts of communities here that I accompany. If there were any leftover money at the end of the giving cycle, it would carry over to the next year. So, I want to also scan what’s happening in Chontal as well, before setting up this fundraiser.
I will send updates, and certainly invitations when the fundraiser is ready. Your prayer is appreciated (many have already offered prayer and Masses), and also fasting.
In the scripture, when David’s child was on the brink of death, he fasted and laid prostrate in prayer begging God. Afterwards, he said, “While the child was living, I fasted and wept, thinking, ‘Who knows? The LORD may grant me the child’s life.’” (2 Sam 12:22) I can see that Isidro doesn’t sleep or eat much these days. We can join with him in our own prayer and fasting. And, who knows, maybe God might grant him his daughter’s life?
I’m still in a quasi retreat mode, so I spend part of each day away from everyone and moving forward in chewing the cud and digesting and forming a vision for next steps. There are many other things happening in parallel, and I’ll share those soon. Please keep me in prayer, and I will you as well.
-Jerome