Aldair is fighting leukemia

Hi, my name is Diane Cooner and I'm fundraising for my friend Romeo and his son Aldair (All-da-eer). Many of you helped our community get Romeo and his family, ceramic artists in Nicaragua, through the pandemic, since they had no way to work. Things were improving thru the second half of 2022, they were making and selling. But now they have a new challenge. Their 23 year old son Aldair was diagnosed in January 2023 with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We came very close to losing him in the initial emergency room procedures, but he stayed with us. He has responded well to blood transfusions, made it through the spinal tap and other blood work for diagnosis, and is now going thru chemotherapy. They also indicate bone marrow transplants as well.

Now comes the hard part - not just his fight, but a renewed fight for his family's survival, since they again are not able to work so that they can be with him in hospital to support him.

Supporting him means more trips to Managua to the hospital, staying in Managua to be near him, and not traveling to Costa Rica to sell the ceramics that they have made this past quarter.

August 2023 Update: We were all relieved when the Nica govt decided that Romeo could travel in July, after imposing a one-month travel restriction on him. Romeo has been here the past two weeks traveling all over Costa Rica with his wares.

Aldair's treatment schedule has been changed for now until the end of August. He was 4 days on/15 days off, but his last medical review saw his white cell count slightly down, so the doctors are going to up 4 days on/4 days off with his chemo. He remains upbeat, which is a blessing.

He also turned 21 in July, which we were not sure he'd see back in January.

You can't see the rest of the photo! It's a birthday cake.

Thank you again to everyone from Romeo, Aldair, and his family, for continuing your care and support.

Updated info: I have increased the amount of the campaign to $10,000 because of the latest news as of June 1, 2023: Romeo has been placed on travel restriction by the govt of Nicaragua 'because he was traveling too much to Costa Rica.' This is insanity! Romeo comes to Costa Rica to earn an honest living with his family wares. This paranoia on the part of the govt just adds to the stress on his young son and his family in the midst of a health crisis.

Aldair is improving, he is on 4 day chemo with a 2 week break, ongoing through August 2023. But if Romeo can't leave the country to sell their pottery, again they are without funds to survive.

Anything is appreciated. And everything this community has donated, money, caring and support - all I can say is the last time I saw Romeo's wife Adriana, she gave me a big hug and wouldn't let go. That's a hug for everyone.