DUBAI // A leukaemia sufferer has made a plea for help to pay for a bone-marrow transplant after suffering two relapses.
Larry Castro, 35, from the Philippines, is back in hospital for chemotherapy to fight off the disease but time is short.
The father of one 12-year-old daughter, Charmaine, is undergoing his third tranche of treatment since being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in 2011, but the harsh nature of the therapy has weakened him.
“Any chance I have of making a long-term recovery depends on me finding a bone marrow donor,” said Mr Castro, who works as a building painter in Dubai.
“The doctors have told me that I only have a 20 per cent chance of survival without a bone-marrow transplant.
“It’s a really desperate situation now.”
Fortunately, his mother has agreed to be the bone-marrow donor but he still needs to raise Dh400,000 for the operation.
Complicating matters is that Mr Castro’s current hospital treatment is not covered by his health insurance.
“I’m appealing for help from the public, if anyone can help please get in touch with me,” he said.
He was admitted to Dubai Hospital’s haematology department in September last year for chemotherapy.
The form of leukaemia he has is a cancer of white blood cells and is very aggressive, resulting in frequent infections.
He was diagnosed with AML after tests by Rashid Hospital in 2011.
“I was not prepared financially,” said Mr Castro, who was working at a supermarket at the time.
“My income was barely enough for my daily needs, let alone the hospital bills but my doctor recommended that I must undergo chemotherapy immediately.”
He took five cycles of chemotherapy over six months, which held the disease in check for a short time.
A bone marrow sample was taken from him and sent to Germany for tests and revealed he would require a transplant.
He was discharged in March 25, 2012, and thought he was recovering. In April of the following year, however, his gums began to bleed and was told by doctors at Dubai Hospital that his blood platelet levels were “dangerously” low.
Following more tests, it was revealed he had suffered a relapse and had to restart another six-month treatment that same month.
He then relapsed again in September last year and has been undergoing more chemotherapy.
The hospital accepted his plea for treatment after he promised to pay for his care once his health insurance cover had ended.
“Doctors have said with finality that only a bone marrow transplant can help me now for long-term recovery,” he said.
“But the cost for the transplant is Dh400,000.
“Also, I don’t know how much the final cost of my treatment will be until I’m discharged, so if people can help with that as well it would be a big help.”
Once the funding is in place the transplant would take place in the Philippines.
Anyone interested in helping can contact Mr Castro on larrycharm9@yahoo.com.
nhanif@thenational.ae