I need your help to help Zoe!
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Deep in the heart of the African bush, my daughter, Jessica, and I led a missions trip to Zambia several years ago. With 11 teenagers, we drove motorcycles to rural villages which had no roads. Our team was extremely dependent upon our two Zambian translators and guides, Kunda and Edwin.
Upon our return to the states, my friendship with Kunda continued. He calls me "mum", I call him my "African son". Since this time he has married, Purity, and their first child was born, Zoe Musentekwa.
It wasn't long after Zoe was born that they noticed she was not meeting developmental milestones. At 18 months, Kunda and Purity were told thier daughter had spinal cancer. Many trips were made to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to see doctors and undergo tests. It was then they learned that surgery was needed to remove the tumor that rested on her spinal cord.
With the assistance of an American doctor who saw Zoe while in Lusaka, St. Jude's Children's Hospital was contacted to see if she would qualify as a candidate. Much to everyone's surprise, she was not accepted. It was concluded by Zoe's medical team that she could get the necessary medical treatment either in America (expenses make this prohibitive), Johannesburg RSA (again, cost restrictive) or India (the most affordable option).
It has been 12 months since Zoe's diagnosis and the only treatment she has received has been over the counter pain pills.
It it is now our opportunity to provide the support and help for Zoe and her parents, much like Kunda and Edwin did for us seven years ago. I want to help them navigate this road they have not chosen to travel. Will you join me in making the cost of Zoe's medical needs and her family's travel costs to India a reality?
Upon our return to the states, my friendship with Kunda continued. He calls me "mum", I call him my "African son". Since this time he has married, Purity, and their first child was born, Zoe Musentekwa.
It wasn't long after Zoe was born that they noticed she was not meeting developmental milestones. At 18 months, Kunda and Purity were told thier daughter had spinal cancer. Many trips were made to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to see doctors and undergo tests. It was then they learned that surgery was needed to remove the tumor that rested on her spinal cord.
With the assistance of an American doctor who saw Zoe while in Lusaka, St. Jude's Children's Hospital was contacted to see if she would qualify as a candidate. Much to everyone's surprise, she was not accepted. It was concluded by Zoe's medical team that she could get the necessary medical treatment either in America (expenses make this prohibitive), Johannesburg RSA (again, cost restrictive) or India (the most affordable option).
It has been 12 months since Zoe's diagnosis and the only treatment she has received has been over the counter pain pills.
It it is now our opportunity to provide the support and help for Zoe and her parents, much like Kunda and Edwin did for us seven years ago. I want to help them navigate this road they have not chosen to travel. Will you join me in making the cost of Zoe's medical needs and her family's travel costs to India a reality?
Organizer
Karen Clark-Elliott
Organizer
Chicago, IL