Help Gaga Get Life-Saving Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
One month after his 35th birthday, Dragiša (or "Gaga" as he's known to family and friends) was diagnosed with melanoma in April 2017. He underwent two surgeries to remove the cancer from his right leg and by the end of July he was well enough to join doctors on a UN mission to Africa. A few weeks into the mission Gaga discovered additional black spots on his lower right leg and since he was in the company of doctors, one of them advised him to return home immediately.
[Mesec dana nakon 35 rodjendana, Dragiši (ili Gagi, kako ga zovu porodica i prijatelji) je dijagnostifikovan melanom, u aprilu 2017. godine. Nakon toga imao je dve operacije ciji je cilj bio uklanjanje kancera sa desne noge i do kraja jula se osecao dovoljno dobro da se pridruzi doktorima na misiji UN u Africi. Nekoliko nedelja nakon odlaska u Afriku, Gaga je primetio nove crne tacke na desnoj nozi i s obzirom da je bio u drustvu doktora, jedan od njih mu je savetovao da se odmah vrati u Srbiju.]
After his return to Serbia in September 2017, Gaga spent the next year undergoing multiple surgeries and various treatments until doctors were satisfied that the cancer was contained. However, on December 25, 2019 (American Christmas Day) during one of his routine follow-up appointments one of the tumor markers was outside its normal value so his doctors ordered a CT scan and an MRI. On January 6, 2020 (Orthodox Christmas Eve), the MRI revealed the previously contained melanoma had spread to Gaga's brain, called leptomeningeal disease (LMD).
[Kada se vratio u Srbiju, imao je vise operacija i primao je razlicite terapije, sve dok doktori nisu bili zadovoljni povlacenjem kancera. Ipak, 25. decembra 2019. godine, (na katolicki Bozic) u toku rutinskog pregleda jedan od tumor markera je bio izvan normalnih vrednosti pa su doktori zahtevali pregled na magnetnoj rezonanci. Na pravoslavno Badnje vece, 6. januara 2020. godine, snimci sa magnetne rezonance su pokazali da se melanom prosirio i metastazirao na mozak. Nova dijagnoza se zove leptomeningealna bolest (LMD).]
Doctors immediately began an aggressive regimen of immunotherapy, radiation, and chemotherapy. As this story is being written, Gaga is undergoing his 8th round of radiation therapy today, February 14th, 2020 (Valentine's Day) at a hospital in Niš, Serbia. He is currently in a lot of pain, however, his spirit, hope, and faith remain strong. We all understand just how aggressive this type of cancer can be, but we also know Gaga very well. And Gaga is a fighter! Given everything he has been through thus far, he remains so positive and so optimistic. Because the hospital has only eight patient beds he travels two hours every day to and from the hospital for treatment and he hasn't complained once. He is an inspiration for us all!
[Doktori su odmah zapoceli sa agresivnom imuno terapijom i sa zracenjima. U vreme pisanja ove price, Gaga prima osmu terapiju zracenjem (14. februara 2020. godine) u bolnici u Nisu, Srbija. On trenutno trpi jake bolove, ali njegov duh, nada i vera ostaju jaki. Svi smo svesni koliko agresivan ovaj tip kancera moze da bude, ali mi poznajemo Gagu vrlo dobro! I znamo da je on borac! Bez obzira na sve sto je preziveo do sada, on je i dalje tako pozitivan i optimistican! Zbog toga sto u bolnici ima samo osmokrevetnih soba, on svakoga dana putuje dva sata do bolnice i nazad do kuce da bi dobio terapiju, i nikada se nije zalio. Zato je svima nama prava inspiracija!]
This past week we received promising news! Gaga's aunt in America discovered a promising life-saving drug trial for patients with the same diagnosis. She contacted the doctors conducting the trial and after an initial review of his medical records, she was informed Gaga is a good match to participate in this ongoing experimental trial. Gaga and his family are making plans to travel as soon as possible. We also learned that a patient suffering from the same cancer was responding well to his therapy. So much so that he recently completed a 10K run. That gives us even more hope!
[Prosle nedelje smo saznali ohrabrujuce vesti. Gagina tetka iz Amerike je otkrila obecavajuce klinicko istrazivanje za pacijente sa istom dijagnozom koje moze da bude ono koje ce Gagi da spasi zivot. Ona je kontaktirala doktore koji sprovode klinicko istrazivanje i nakon inicijalnog proucavanja medicinske dokumentacije, doktori su je obavestili da Gaga moze da ucestvuje u ovom klinickom eksperimentalnom istrazivanju. Isto tako smo saznali da je jedan pacijent koji ucestvuje u ovom klinickom istrazivanju odlicno reagovao na terapiju. Toliko dobro da je nedavno istrcao trku na 10.000 metara. Ovo nam daje jos vise nade!]
We know the road ahead is uncertain and will be difficult but we remain steadfast in our mission to help Gaga fight this awful cancer. His Serbian doctors have done so much for Gaga up to this point with very little resources. He now needs to leave his home country to have access to the advanced and innovative care he will need going forward. This will be very expensive and overly burdensome for Gaga and his family. The initial drug trial examination alone will cost over $40,000. Please help us raise money for Gaga's travel and medical expenses. Gaga's family and friends look forward to celebrating his 38th birthday with him on March 5, 2020. Please keep Gaga in your thoughts and prayers!
[Svesni smo da je put ispred nas nepredvidiv i da ce biti jako tesko, ali ostajemo istrajni u nasoj misiji da pomognemo Gagi da pobedi ovu opaku bolest. Njegovi doktori u Srbiji su uradili toliko toga za njega sa vrlo ogranicenim resursima. Medjutim sada ce morati da napusti svoju zemlju da bi imao pristup naprednijim i inovatovnijim metodama lecenja, kako bi mogao da nastavi dalje da se bori. Ovo ce biti vrlo skupo i veliko finansijsko opterecenje za Gagu i njegovu porodicu. Inicijalni pregled na klinickom istrazivanju ce da kosta preko 40.000$. Zato vas sve molimo da nam pomognete da sakupimo novac za Gagine putne i medicinske troskove. Gagini prijatelji i porodica se raduju proslavi njegovog 38. rodjendana 5. marta 2020. godine! Molimo vas da se molite zajedno sa nama za Gagino ozdravljenje.]
Thank you for helping Gaga! Please share his story. [Hvala vam sto pomazete Gagi! Podelite njegovu pricu.]
[Mesec dana nakon 35 rodjendana, Dragiši (ili Gagi, kako ga zovu porodica i prijatelji) je dijagnostifikovan melanom, u aprilu 2017. godine. Nakon toga imao je dve operacije ciji je cilj bio uklanjanje kancera sa desne noge i do kraja jula se osecao dovoljno dobro da se pridruzi doktorima na misiji UN u Africi. Nekoliko nedelja nakon odlaska u Afriku, Gaga je primetio nove crne tacke na desnoj nozi i s obzirom da je bio u drustvu doktora, jedan od njih mu je savetovao da se odmah vrati u Srbiju.]
After his return to Serbia in September 2017, Gaga spent the next year undergoing multiple surgeries and various treatments until doctors were satisfied that the cancer was contained. However, on December 25, 2019 (American Christmas Day) during one of his routine follow-up appointments one of the tumor markers was outside its normal value so his doctors ordered a CT scan and an MRI. On January 6, 2020 (Orthodox Christmas Eve), the MRI revealed the previously contained melanoma had spread to Gaga's brain, called leptomeningeal disease (LMD).
[Kada se vratio u Srbiju, imao je vise operacija i primao je razlicite terapije, sve dok doktori nisu bili zadovoljni povlacenjem kancera. Ipak, 25. decembra 2019. godine, (na katolicki Bozic) u toku rutinskog pregleda jedan od tumor markera je bio izvan normalnih vrednosti pa su doktori zahtevali pregled na magnetnoj rezonanci. Na pravoslavno Badnje vece, 6. januara 2020. godine, snimci sa magnetne rezonance su pokazali da se melanom prosirio i metastazirao na mozak. Nova dijagnoza se zove leptomeningealna bolest (LMD).]
Doctors immediately began an aggressive regimen of immunotherapy, radiation, and chemotherapy. As this story is being written, Gaga is undergoing his 8th round of radiation therapy today, February 14th, 2020 (Valentine's Day) at a hospital in Niš, Serbia. He is currently in a lot of pain, however, his spirit, hope, and faith remain strong. We all understand just how aggressive this type of cancer can be, but we also know Gaga very well. And Gaga is a fighter! Given everything he has been through thus far, he remains so positive and so optimistic. Because the hospital has only eight patient beds he travels two hours every day to and from the hospital for treatment and he hasn't complained once. He is an inspiration for us all!
[Doktori su odmah zapoceli sa agresivnom imuno terapijom i sa zracenjima. U vreme pisanja ove price, Gaga prima osmu terapiju zracenjem (14. februara 2020. godine) u bolnici u Nisu, Srbija. On trenutno trpi jake bolove, ali njegov duh, nada i vera ostaju jaki. Svi smo svesni koliko agresivan ovaj tip kancera moze da bude, ali mi poznajemo Gagu vrlo dobro! I znamo da je on borac! Bez obzira na sve sto je preziveo do sada, on je i dalje tako pozitivan i optimistican! Zbog toga sto u bolnici ima samo osmokrevetnih soba, on svakoga dana putuje dva sata do bolnice i nazad do kuce da bi dobio terapiju, i nikada se nije zalio. Zato je svima nama prava inspiracija!]
This past week we received promising news! Gaga's aunt in America discovered a promising life-saving drug trial for patients with the same diagnosis. She contacted the doctors conducting the trial and after an initial review of his medical records, she was informed Gaga is a good match to participate in this ongoing experimental trial. Gaga and his family are making plans to travel as soon as possible. We also learned that a patient suffering from the same cancer was responding well to his therapy. So much so that he recently completed a 10K run. That gives us even more hope!
[Prosle nedelje smo saznali ohrabrujuce vesti. Gagina tetka iz Amerike je otkrila obecavajuce klinicko istrazivanje za pacijente sa istom dijagnozom koje moze da bude ono koje ce Gagi da spasi zivot. Ona je kontaktirala doktore koji sprovode klinicko istrazivanje i nakon inicijalnog proucavanja medicinske dokumentacije, doktori su je obavestili da Gaga moze da ucestvuje u ovom klinickom eksperimentalnom istrazivanju. Isto tako smo saznali da je jedan pacijent koji ucestvuje u ovom klinickom istrazivanju odlicno reagovao na terapiju. Toliko dobro da je nedavno istrcao trku na 10.000 metara. Ovo nam daje jos vise nade!]
We know the road ahead is uncertain and will be difficult but we remain steadfast in our mission to help Gaga fight this awful cancer. His Serbian doctors have done so much for Gaga up to this point with very little resources. He now needs to leave his home country to have access to the advanced and innovative care he will need going forward. This will be very expensive and overly burdensome for Gaga and his family. The initial drug trial examination alone will cost over $40,000. Please help us raise money for Gaga's travel and medical expenses. Gaga's family and friends look forward to celebrating his 38th birthday with him on March 5, 2020. Please keep Gaga in your thoughts and prayers!
[Svesni smo da je put ispred nas nepredvidiv i da ce biti jako tesko, ali ostajemo istrajni u nasoj misiji da pomognemo Gagi da pobedi ovu opaku bolest. Njegovi doktori u Srbiji su uradili toliko toga za njega sa vrlo ogranicenim resursima. Medjutim sada ce morati da napusti svoju zemlju da bi imao pristup naprednijim i inovatovnijim metodama lecenja, kako bi mogao da nastavi dalje da se bori. Ovo ce biti vrlo skupo i veliko finansijsko opterecenje za Gagu i njegovu porodicu. Inicijalni pregled na klinickom istrazivanju ce da kosta preko 40.000$. Zato vas sve molimo da nam pomognete da sakupimo novac za Gagine putne i medicinske troskove. Gagini prijatelji i porodica se raduju proslavi njegovog 38. rodjendana 5. marta 2020. godine! Molimo vas da se molite zajedno sa nama za Gagino ozdravljenje.]
Thank you for helping Gaga! Please share his story. [Hvala vam sto pomazete Gagi! Podelite njegovu pricu.]
Organizer
Dejan Kozic
Organizer
Chicago, IL