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Help Denila Fight Lymphoma

My name is Desmond. My wife Denila was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on March 24, 2014. After multiple chemotherapies, she is planned to be treated with 3 cycles of Bendamustine and Brentuximab based chemotherapy followed by Haploidentical stem cell transplant by Dr. Vikram Mathews at CMC Hospital, Vellore. This treatment is the only option available at this stage. Each cycle of chemotherapy costs around $14,000. With support from family and friends, we've paid for the first cycle. I've created this campaign to raise funds for the second and third cycles of chemotherapy. We need your support.

Here is my wife's story:

          "My name is Denila and I am 29 years old. Two years ago, when I discovered a lump in my neck, I never imagined that my whole life would change completely. It was twelve days after my son’s fourth birthday, on March 24, 2014, that my doctor diagnosed me with stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In the beginning, I simply refused to accept the diagnosis. How could I have cancer? No one in my circle of family and friends had this disease. But as I waited in the waiting room, I saw patients with bald heads, tubes attached to their nose and mouths and in great pain. Reality hit me hard. I was one of them.

          As part of my treatment, I underwent six lines of chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsy, lung biopsy and numerous PET scans. I quit my job. Today, I can no longer look after my son the way I used to. I loved to bake cakes for my husband, but now I no longer bake. I had smooth and silky hair and I enjoyed dressing up and trying out new hair styles. Today, I am learning to deal with my complete hair loss. I can no longer enjoy the simple pleasures of playing outdoors with my son or go shopping to a mall, for fear of catching an infection. I miss having a good night's sleep. I try to be strong but I am human. On days when I am weak, I feel anguish and pain. 

          However, in spite of the tears, I have reason to cheer. I have been blessed with an incredible family. My husband has been my beacon of hope. No matter how hard it has been for me and for him, he always smiles. My mother has been by my side throughout my treatment. She’s the one who tirelessly attends to all my needs, be it preparing nutritious soups and juices or praying with me. My in-laws have also been extremely supportive. They look after my son and make sure that I get all the rest I need. They are old and it hasn’t been easy for them, but they have never complained. So many of my cousins and friends have reached out to me. And I am so grateful to my pastor for the encouragement he has given me. His sermons fill me with immense hope and strength to fight my disease. I desperately want to live for my son, my husband, my family. I have dreams of leading a normal life again and I trust in God that I will be healthy once more.

          I am grateful that today, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is one of the most curable forms of cancer. As part of my current treatment, I have been prescribed Brentuximab Vedotin. This is a prohibitively expensive drug, but it promises me new hope. Having exhausted my funds on chemotherapy, I am now depending on the kindness of friends and strangers. I would be extremely thankful to you, for any amount that you can contribute. No donation is too small. With your prayers and contributions, I know I can be healed."

I try my best to post the treatment updates in my facebook page -
www.facebook.com/HelpDenilaFightCancer
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Desmond Sambath
Organizer

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