Help Ari back home to Greenland
Donation protected
The diagnosis and evacuation to Denmark
In March 2019, in his hometown Nuuk in Greenland, Ari (14 yrs old) was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphatic Leukemia). That same day he was airlifted to the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. At the hospital the doctors explained to Ari and his mom, Malene, that treating leukemia is a very long process and told them they would have to stay in Denmark for two years. Ari’s life was turned upside down. Since the abrupt move to Denmark, Ari, Malene and Peter (Ari’s stepdad) have moved from place to place but have had to remain within close distance to the hospital. Ari has spent most days of the past 18 months in hospital. Ari sorely misses his dad Fernando, his sister Maria and his friends in Greenland.
The treatment
Curing this disease is a dreadful and painful process. And he is not done yet. Because of Ari’s special genetic variant of ALL he has to endure even stronger medication than other leukemia patients. The first year of treatment was incredibly grueling and the medication gave Ari horrific side effects. He spent months just lying in a hospital bed, too weak to do anything else. Despite debilitating pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, being far from his dad, his sister, his friends and his home, Ari didn’t complain and kept a positive attitude.
Coming home to Greenland
The medication is working! Because Ari’s condition is steadily improving, the doctors have agreed that during the next 6-8 months he can travel to Greenland between treatments. This means everything to now 15-year-old Ari. It means he can reunite with his father, Fernando, and his sister, Maria. It means he can go back to school. It means he can see his friends. It means he can catch up on everything he has missed out on. When you are 15, this is more important than anything else. Throughout his disease and his treatments in Denmark, Ari’s friends have been incredibly loyal. Some have visited; many have stayed in contact by texting, video chatting and playing video games together. But nothing substitutes for rejoining his life in Greenland.
We are immensely grateful for the possibilities that the Danish and Greenlandic healthcare system offer to Ari and other patients with cancer. But even with the good and professional care that we receive at Rigshospitalet we are facing economic problems because we live in Greenland and the treatment is in Denmark. There are many and big costs associated with the travels back and forth between Greenland and Denmark which are not covered by the healthcare system. That’s why we are now asking for help.
Who is organizing this?
This fundraiser is organized by his parents’ friends. We have seen how hard this ordeal has been on the whole family. We want to do whatever we can to help. We are organizing two different fundraising campaigns. One on Spleis.no in Norway, where his father has studied, worked and lived for many years; and one on Gofundme.com, which we will circulate in Denmark, Greenland and other countries.
The goal
Our ambitious plan is to raise a total of 150.000 DKK. The money is for plane tickets, accommodation and living expenses. Due to the continuous treatment every 6th week, there will be quite a few trips to Denmark and back.
In March 2019, in his hometown Nuuk in Greenland, Ari (14 yrs old) was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphatic Leukemia). That same day he was airlifted to the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. At the hospital the doctors explained to Ari and his mom, Malene, that treating leukemia is a very long process and told them they would have to stay in Denmark for two years. Ari’s life was turned upside down. Since the abrupt move to Denmark, Ari, Malene and Peter (Ari’s stepdad) have moved from place to place but have had to remain within close distance to the hospital. Ari has spent most days of the past 18 months in hospital. Ari sorely misses his dad Fernando, his sister Maria and his friends in Greenland.
The treatment
Curing this disease is a dreadful and painful process. And he is not done yet. Because of Ari’s special genetic variant of ALL he has to endure even stronger medication than other leukemia patients. The first year of treatment was incredibly grueling and the medication gave Ari horrific side effects. He spent months just lying in a hospital bed, too weak to do anything else. Despite debilitating pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, being far from his dad, his sister, his friends and his home, Ari didn’t complain and kept a positive attitude.
Coming home to Greenland
The medication is working! Because Ari’s condition is steadily improving, the doctors have agreed that during the next 6-8 months he can travel to Greenland between treatments. This means everything to now 15-year-old Ari. It means he can reunite with his father, Fernando, and his sister, Maria. It means he can go back to school. It means he can see his friends. It means he can catch up on everything he has missed out on. When you are 15, this is more important than anything else. Throughout his disease and his treatments in Denmark, Ari’s friends have been incredibly loyal. Some have visited; many have stayed in contact by texting, video chatting and playing video games together. But nothing substitutes for rejoining his life in Greenland.
We are immensely grateful for the possibilities that the Danish and Greenlandic healthcare system offer to Ari and other patients with cancer. But even with the good and professional care that we receive at Rigshospitalet we are facing economic problems because we live in Greenland and the treatment is in Denmark. There are many and big costs associated with the travels back and forth between Greenland and Denmark which are not covered by the healthcare system. That’s why we are now asking for help.
Who is organizing this?
This fundraiser is organized by his parents’ friends. We have seen how hard this ordeal has been on the whole family. We want to do whatever we can to help. We are organizing two different fundraising campaigns. One on Spleis.no in Norway, where his father has studied, worked and lived for many years; and one on Gofundme.com, which we will circulate in Denmark, Greenland and other countries.
The goal
Our ambitious plan is to raise a total of 150.000 DKK. The money is for plane tickets, accommodation and living expenses. Due to the continuous treatment every 6th week, there will be quite a few trips to Denmark and back.
Co-organizers (2)
Malene Simon
Organizer
Ølsted
Peter Hegelund
Co-organizer