Please Help Us Fight for Miguel Angel
Hello, I am Sara, And I am starting this fundraiser to save my cousin's life from fibrosarcoma of the foot.
On one morning in May of 2021, soon before his 22nd birthday, my cousin Miguel Angel became concerned by the appearance of a small lump in his left foot. This small lump became significantly bigger, quadrupling the size of his foot, which caused him to lose the ability to walk on his own. At that point, he underwent a CT and MRI of his left foot; the doctor was instantly alarmed and wrote in his chart: diagnosed with cancer for the first time. Following the doctor's recommendations, my cousin went back home and started calling the hospital to schedule an appointment to get a biopsy. Miguel Angel lives in Colombia; in this country, the chances of being seen and treated by a doctor rely upon your ability to pay for your treatments immediately. Due to my cousin's condition, he could not return to work, which impacted his family's financial situation. Miguel Angel was in his third semester of college, dreaming of becoming an accountant to provide for his family. His job consisted of being a security guard for a supermarket. This job required him to be on his feet for at least twelve hours a day. His monthly income was only $250 a month. He had to use this money to pay for rent, bills, and food. Therefore, there was no money left to supply his medical condition.
Unfortunately, working was not an option for him. Miguel attempted multiple times calling the hospital to schedule his biopsy. However, the hospital delayed my cousin's treatment by not prioritizing his condition because of a lack of money to supply the treatment. Desperately after three weeks of no progression, Miguel Angel reached out to my family, asking for help. My name is Sara, I am a recent college graduate, and I work as an EMT throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During this pandemic, I am the only one providing income in my household, which prevents me from fully financing my cousin's treatment. I was only able to help him pay for his biopsy. Furthermore, after the biopsy and tests that followed, the unbelievable diagnosis that has all of us in tears became Miguel's reality. Advanced fibrosarcoma of the foot, very uncommon and difficult to treat.
Miguel's cancer is sporadic, and only 2% of the population are diagnosed with this cancer located on foot. This type of cancer gave him no warning signs and spread very fast. The doctor told him that the average patient lives five years maximum before receiving treatment and ten years only after getting their knee amputated. The doctor also suggested that he needed constant monitoring. In addition, the doctor also suggested that he might need surgery and chemotherapy to treat this cancer. Unfortunately, the doctor told Miguel that only one private hospital in Colombia specializes in the appropriate treatment of cancer. The doctor was not able to continue with his treatment because his foot was deteriorating rapidly. The cancer was already spreading in his body. My tears drop as I type this story. I can't even imagine what my cousin is feeling and dealing with. I am feeling overwhelmed with not having the resources to save his life. After receiving the appropriate treatment, some patients make it to 10 years after surgery. This is Miguel's goal.
Another obstacle that my cousin is currently facing is getting reliable transportation to his appointments. Unfortunately, he has to wake up at 4:00 am every day and limp with the help of a walking cane to the cheapest bus route. His appointments start at 7:00 am, and the hospital is located two hours away from his residence. Forcing his foot has caused the tumor to spread to the other side of the foot. Therefore, the doctor also recommended that he needed an echocardiogram because he might be concerned that his cancer is already spreading throughout his body.
Rather than waking up every morning to go to class and work, Miguel is now having trouble getting out of bed because his body is getting weaker. The things Miguel had planned for his future got canceled. All Miguel has to think about is a way to still provide for his family and the battle ahead of him. He wants to get the surgery to spend more time with his loved ones and continue pursuing his dreams.
The cost for this treatment and other medical procedures will be significantly expensive since my cousin does not have medical insurance and lost his job. His family will need to spend approximately over $50K over the next couple of months for the initial chemotherapies and the surgery right after. This fundraiser will provide Miguel with an opportunity to fight this disease. He believes that anything is possible, and I fully support him.
Miguel feels very grateful and motivated for all the support and prayers he will receive. His family and I thank you for taking the time to read my cousin's story. I am waiting for a blessing to reach our goal since his treatment has not been initiated yet. We hope that you have it in your heart to donate; no amount is too small. Thank you for any assistance that you can provide for Miguel Angel.
Please check back for any updates on Miguel Angel's medical condition.
