[On his 19th birthday my son was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a rare bone marrow disease that destroys the body's ability to make blood. After 15 months, and an arduous journey of hospital, medicine, chemo, horrible side effects and false hope he seems finally on the right path, thanks to the often fragile but ultimately miraculous health care we have access to in the USA.]

Abasiekeme ("Kem") is much less fortunate. Suffering from this disease at 15, he is in a hospital in Calabar, Nigeria. Originally misdiagnosed, there's very little help he can get - the barest of medicine and blood transfusions to keep him alive. At times his own father has had to purchase a bag and needle to draw his own blood to transfuse Kem. The lifesaving drugs (immunosuppressants, antivirals, platelet and red blood boosters, antibiotics and much more) that my son has and is taking are in short supply.

I know what we went through and it pales compared to what Kem and his father Abang Otu Ita deal with daily. We talk with them every week via our AA Zoom group. Usually they are huddled under a mosquito net, hoping to find and afford the supplies and medicine to keep Kem alive.

We had hoped to get Kem to the U.S. for acceptance into NIH clinical trials but unfortunately that has not yet happened. We are now looking to raise funds to support Kem through his illness while we look for alternative avenues. The cost has taken everything from Kem's family and any help, no matter how small would be received gratefully.

Thank you!

Antony