(Version en espanol al final)

Hi, I am Silvia, a relative of Juan Francisco. He is a lively 15 year old child who three months ago received a devastating life-changing diagnosis: Aggressive Osteo-Sarcoma on his right leg.

He was living in Ecuador with his mother, but his father lives in Colombia, as well as his maternal grandparents. The family decided to come back to Colombia for him to start his very urgent treatment. They had to start by obtaining his Colombian citizenship and medical insurance, but since the treatment was so urgent, they started with the tests while they were working on the paperwork. His CT came back showing metastasis in the lungs, with uncountable tumors.

Juan Francisco and his family have embraced his situation with utmost courage and determination, and he started Chemotherapy. But the tumor continued to grow and broke the bone. Juan Francisco has his leg totally immobilized with a bone unable to heal, and so the next step is to amputate his leg. They are waiting to hear a decision regarding the lung situation, to know which direction to take after the amputation.

We are starting this Go Fund me, because the family cannot support this economical burden alone. The mother had to leave her apartment and sell or give away their belongings in Ecuador to move with Juan Francisco to Colombia, they are renting a room close to the hospital (The grandparents live more than one hour away, and their place is small and crowded (Juan Francisco's grandfather has many medical issues too). Medications and nutritional supplements are covered by the insurance, but many other things are not, like diapers, cleaning pads, packed food (to follow a no microbial diet due to the immunosuppression, food for the caregiver during hospitalizations and ED visits, crutches and a walker, and possibly wheelchair. The family owes money for what was done before the insurance kicked in. Juan Francisco is constantly in and out of the hospital, due to chemotherapy and other complications. Transportation to and from the hospital is very difficult with an immobilized leg, and there are many other expenses like taxi cab, or clothes, that alone might not mean much, but that add to the insurmountable amounts of money that come out of their pocket. Transportation to and from the hospital is very difficult with an immobilized leg, and there are many other expenses like food and clothes, that alone might not mean much, but that add to the insurmountable amounts of money that come out of their pocket.

Regardless of the decision concerning his lungs and further treatment, the family wants to provide the best care and experience for this lovely child, who turned 15 in the hospital, and who has been facing his ordeal with unbelievable courage. His older brother is still in Ecuador and the family would like to reunite in Colombia for the coming holidays. Juan Francisco decided to accept the amputation to have better mobility and less pain, and so, be able to enjoy life with his family. Depending on his medical situation and decisions, and after he recovers from the amputation they would bring Juan Francisco, to some place of his liking.

We need all the help that you can offer, to be able to move ahead with this. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping make his treatment and life experience possible.

Espanol:

Hola, Soy Silvia, familiar de Juan Francisco. El es un joven alegre de 15 anos que hace tres meses recibió un diagnostico devastador que le cambió la vida: osteosarcoma agresivo en la pierna derecha.

Vivia en Ecuador con su madre y hermano, y su padre vive en Colombia, al igual que sus abuelos maternos. La familia decidió volver a Colombia para empezar su tratamiento, el cual era muy urgente. Tuvieron que empezar por obtener su nacionalidad colombiana y el seguro médico, pero como el tratamiento era tan apremiante, empezaron con las pruebas mientras realizaban los tramites. Su TAC mostró metástasis en los pulmones, con innumerables nódulos.

Juan Francisco y su familia estan afrontando su situación con el máximo de coraje y determinación, y comenzaron la quimioterapia. Pero el tumor siguió creciendo y le rompió el hueso. Juan Francisco tiene la pierna totalmente inmobilizada con un hueso incapaz de cicatrizar, por lo que el siguiente paso es amputarle la pierna. Estan a la espera de conocer una decisión respecto a la situación del pulmón, para saber que dirección tomar despues de la amputación.

Estamos poniendo en marcha este Go Fund me, porque la familia no puede afrontar sola esta carga economica. La madre tuvo que dejar su apartamento y vender o regalar sus pertenencias en Ecuador para mudarse con Juan Francisco a Colombia, están alquilando una habitacion cerca del hospital (los abuelos viven a mas de una hora de distancia, y su lugar es pequeño. El abuelo de Juan Francisco tamben tiene muchos problemas medicos). Los medicamentos y suplementos nutricionales estan cubiertos por el seguro pero muchas otras cosas no, como pañales, pañitos humedos, comida empaquetada (para seguir una dieta antimicrobiana debido a la inmunosupresión, comida para el cuidador durante las hospitalizaciones y visitas a urgencias, maletas y un andador. La familia tuvo que pagar de su bolsillo los estudios que se hicieron antes de que entrara en vitor el seguro. Juan Francisco entra y sale constantemente del hospital debido a la quimioterapia y otras complicaciones. El transporte de ida y vuela al hospital es muy dificil con una pierna inmobilizada, y hay muchos otros gastos como taxi o ropa, que por si solos no significan mucho, pero que se suman a las enormes cantidades de dinero que salen de su bolsillo.

Independientemente de la decisión que se tome sobre sus pulmones y el tratamiento posterior, la familia quiere proporcionar los mejores cuidados y la mejor experiencia a este adorable niño que cumplió sus 15 años en el hospital y que se ha enfrentado a su calvario con un coraje increible. Su hermano sigue en Ecuador y la familia quisiera reunirse en Colombia para las proxima navidad. Juan Francisco aceptó la amputacion para tener mejor movilidad y menos dodor y asi poder disfrutar de la vida con su familia. Dependiendo de su situación médica y decisiones, y después de recuperarse de la amputación, planean llevar a Juan Francisco a algun lugar de su agrado. Necesitamos toda la ayuda que nos puedan ofrecer para poder seguir adelante con esto. Gracias de todo corazón por ayudarnos a hacer posible su tratamiento y su experiencia de vida, y gracias por compartir!