Help Marcos fight a brain tumor
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[Para español por favor leer al final]
Las donaciones son en USD
Hello,
Thank you for visiting this page. I opened this page to help raise funds for my friend Marcos' second brain surgery as he continues to fight cancer.
Who I am and how I know Marcos:
I'm originally from Peru and Marcos and I met 20+ years ago playing tennis in South America. At that time, we knew each other but our true friendship developed when we both coincidentially went to play college tennis for Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. At Belmont, we were teammates, roommates, and classmates (both studied Finance). After college, and despite living in different countries, we remain very close and present in each other's lives.
How the funds will be used:
The funds raised in this campaign will be used to pay for the costs associated to Marcos' second brain surgery and post-surgery therapy and treatment in the United States. As you all know, Marcos is from Uruguay and resides in Chile. He is incurring in significant costs to travel to the United States to receive this treatment (which is not covered by his Chilean insurance provider). The estimated cost for the brain surgery and subsequent treatment (radiotherapy and quimotherapy) is USD 400,000.
The funds raised will be wire-transfer to Marcos' bank account so he can made payments of his medical bills.
Below is his story as told by him.
How the Story Begins:
At age 36, I was diagnosed with grade 2 brain cancer (Oligodendroglioma). When I heard the diagnosis, I immediately thought about all the things I wanted to do in my life and if I would have the chance to get to do them.
Two years ago, while on a business trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, one morning I woke up and noticed blood on the pillow, which came from my nose. I thought I had a nosebleed and that it wasn’t a big deal. However, I did not feel good the entire morning so I decided to go to a hospital to be checked-out. The doctors performed an MRI and within minutes, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor the size of a tennis ball. At that moment, I was frozen and couldn’t really comprehend what had just happened to me.
After spending a couple of days in observation in Argentina, I flew back to Chile to get more tests done. After multiple visits to several doctors and additional tests and MRIs, it was decided that I needed brain surgery immediately. The tumor needed to be extracted before it started to cause more damage and additional side effects.
Marcos with his parents Fernando and Beatriz at his college graduation at Belmont University.
On March 2016, I had conventional brain surgery in Chile. I was happy with the outcome knowing that most of the tumor was removed without hurting my brain and that the pathology report showed grade two, which meant any remainder tumor would be slow growing.
Picture of Marco's stiches post first surgery
The Fight:
Over the last two years, I have been going through rigorous chemotherapy in hopes to mitigate additional tumor growth and potentially reduce the size of the remainder of the tumor in my brain. I have maintained a positive attitude and face this difficult time in my life with optimism. I have felt your love, encouragement and friendship every step of the way and has made me stronger to fight this cancer. I am very thankful for everything you have done to help me overcome this bump in the road.
Marcos y Xime en Mexico
At the end of 2017, during a routine MRI checkup to see how the tumor was responding to the treatment, we were surprised that the tumor had grown rapidly and aggressively. The treatment had not worked as expected. Because of the rapid growth of the tumor, I need surgery again and very soon in order to remove the tumor and avoid comprising any other parts of my brain. However, this time, doctors agree that the best option for this second surgery is to have it performed with technology only available in the United States.
Picture showing the rapid growth of the tumor (white area) from November 2017 (left) to March 2018 (right).
I face this second surgery with the same optimism and positivity as the first one. I am determined to fight this brain cancer and I know I am not alone. I am truly blessed to have my wonderful family and friends supporting me since the beginning. You have giving me your support in many ways already and I am forever thankful.
Marcos with his nieces Julia y Rocio and nephew Mauro
For the last couple of months, I have been researching and contacting hospitals in the United States to get information and look at the possibility of having my second surgery there. The technology for the second surgery will allow doctors to remove as many abnormal cancer cells as possible without affecting the integrity of the brain that I need to move, speak and have my memory. Because of the rapid growth of the tumor, I need to have the surgery done as soon as possible.
The Help Needed:
The cost associated with the surgery and subsequent treatment is approximately USD 500,000. My health insurer in Chile considers this procedure in the United States as “out of network” and a large portion of the costs will not be covered. I will need to cover these costs personally. It is because of this that I need to call on you, my friends and family, to help me find a way to cover these costs. I know it’s a lot of money and any help is greatly appreciated. I am determined to keep fighting.
Together with your support, prayers, and with the access to this advanced technology, I am hopeful we will beat this cancer for the last time.
I will keep you posted of my progress. I love you and appreciate your help and support.
Very thankful,
Marcos
En español----------------------------------------------------
Hola,
Muchos de ustedes ya me conocen porque son familia, amigos o colegas. Si no lo son, aquellos que si están en mi circulo mas intimo hicieron un buen trabajo en distribuir este mensaje.
Hace ya un par de años, a partir de una convulsión que tuve mientras dormía y una resonancia al día siguiente, detectaron un tumor cerebral de tamaño importante, un poco menor al de un puno. En ese entonces tuve una cirugía en Santiago de Chile que fue exitosa en el sentido que gran parte del tumor fue extirpado y sin dejar secuelas. Estuve estable a partir de allí ayudado por médicos y quimioterapia y siguiendo con una vida normal llena de esas cosas que me gusta hacer, deporte, trabajo, viajes y compartiendo con mis seres queridos.
Desafortunadamente y para mi sorpresa, a finales del 2017, el tumor tuvo una nueva arremetida y con mayor agresividad, creciendo rápidamente y haciendo que por recomendación de los médicos tanto de Uruguay, Chile y a quienes he consultado en el exterior, recomienden tratarme en centros médicos que cuenten con la tecnología necesaria no solo a nivel tecnológico sino también en cuanto a la experiencia en casos similares.
Hoy las opciones son Estados Unidos (Houston o Nueva York) ya que los principales hospitales de allí cuentan con neuronavegador, resonador incorporado al quirófano, tecnologías laser y de rayos de última generación para la probable radio terapia post intervención quirúrgica. Cuentan además con una vasta experiencia en casos de estas características.
Hoy lo que me detiene de avanzar con esta alternativa es la cobertura ya que las mismas tienen topes ajustadas a la realidad de Sudamérica que distan mucho del costo de la atención con las capacidades que antes les mencione.
Es por eso y por la insistencia de mucha gente que quiere ayudar y se puso a disposición que prepare estas líneas apelando a su solidaridad y esperando que de la mano de ustedes pueda acceder al tratamiento.
De mi lado les puedo asegurar que mis ganas y animo están intactas y tengo la ilusión de que esta alternativa pueda acercarme a estar saludable nuevamente para seguir compartiendo con todos ustedes.
Muchas gracias!!!
Marcos
Las donaciones son en USD
Hello,
Thank you for visiting this page. I opened this page to help raise funds for my friend Marcos' second brain surgery as he continues to fight cancer.
Who I am and how I know Marcos:
I'm originally from Peru and Marcos and I met 20+ years ago playing tennis in South America. At that time, we knew each other but our true friendship developed when we both coincidentially went to play college tennis for Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. At Belmont, we were teammates, roommates, and classmates (both studied Finance). After college, and despite living in different countries, we remain very close and present in each other's lives.
How the funds will be used:
The funds raised in this campaign will be used to pay for the costs associated to Marcos' second brain surgery and post-surgery therapy and treatment in the United States. As you all know, Marcos is from Uruguay and resides in Chile. He is incurring in significant costs to travel to the United States to receive this treatment (which is not covered by his Chilean insurance provider). The estimated cost for the brain surgery and subsequent treatment (radiotherapy and quimotherapy) is USD 400,000.
The funds raised will be wire-transfer to Marcos' bank account so he can made payments of his medical bills.
Below is his story as told by him.
How the Story Begins:
At age 36, I was diagnosed with grade 2 brain cancer (Oligodendroglioma). When I heard the diagnosis, I immediately thought about all the things I wanted to do in my life and if I would have the chance to get to do them.
Two years ago, while on a business trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, one morning I woke up and noticed blood on the pillow, which came from my nose. I thought I had a nosebleed and that it wasn’t a big deal. However, I did not feel good the entire morning so I decided to go to a hospital to be checked-out. The doctors performed an MRI and within minutes, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor the size of a tennis ball. At that moment, I was frozen and couldn’t really comprehend what had just happened to me.
After spending a couple of days in observation in Argentina, I flew back to Chile to get more tests done. After multiple visits to several doctors and additional tests and MRIs, it was decided that I needed brain surgery immediately. The tumor needed to be extracted before it started to cause more damage and additional side effects.
Marcos with his parents Fernando and Beatriz at his college graduation at Belmont University. On March 2016, I had conventional brain surgery in Chile. I was happy with the outcome knowing that most of the tumor was removed without hurting my brain and that the pathology report showed grade two, which meant any remainder tumor would be slow growing.
Picture of Marco's stiches post first surgeryThe Fight:
Over the last two years, I have been going through rigorous chemotherapy in hopes to mitigate additional tumor growth and potentially reduce the size of the remainder of the tumor in my brain. I have maintained a positive attitude and face this difficult time in my life with optimism. I have felt your love, encouragement and friendship every step of the way and has made me stronger to fight this cancer. I am very thankful for everything you have done to help me overcome this bump in the road.
Marcos y Xime en Mexico At the end of 2017, during a routine MRI checkup to see how the tumor was responding to the treatment, we were surprised that the tumor had grown rapidly and aggressively. The treatment had not worked as expected. Because of the rapid growth of the tumor, I need surgery again and very soon in order to remove the tumor and avoid comprising any other parts of my brain. However, this time, doctors agree that the best option for this second surgery is to have it performed with technology only available in the United States.
Picture showing the rapid growth of the tumor (white area) from November 2017 (left) to March 2018 (right).I face this second surgery with the same optimism and positivity as the first one. I am determined to fight this brain cancer and I know I am not alone. I am truly blessed to have my wonderful family and friends supporting me since the beginning. You have giving me your support in many ways already and I am forever thankful.
Marcos with his nieces Julia y Rocio and nephew MauroFor the last couple of months, I have been researching and contacting hospitals in the United States to get information and look at the possibility of having my second surgery there. The technology for the second surgery will allow doctors to remove as many abnormal cancer cells as possible without affecting the integrity of the brain that I need to move, speak and have my memory. Because of the rapid growth of the tumor, I need to have the surgery done as soon as possible.
The Help Needed:
The cost associated with the surgery and subsequent treatment is approximately USD 500,000. My health insurer in Chile considers this procedure in the United States as “out of network” and a large portion of the costs will not be covered. I will need to cover these costs personally. It is because of this that I need to call on you, my friends and family, to help me find a way to cover these costs. I know it’s a lot of money and any help is greatly appreciated. I am determined to keep fighting.
Together with your support, prayers, and with the access to this advanced technology, I am hopeful we will beat this cancer for the last time.
I will keep you posted of my progress. I love you and appreciate your help and support.
Very thankful,
Marcos
En español----------------------------------------------------
Hola,
Muchos de ustedes ya me conocen porque son familia, amigos o colegas. Si no lo son, aquellos que si están en mi circulo mas intimo hicieron un buen trabajo en distribuir este mensaje.
Hace ya un par de años, a partir de una convulsión que tuve mientras dormía y una resonancia al día siguiente, detectaron un tumor cerebral de tamaño importante, un poco menor al de un puno. En ese entonces tuve una cirugía en Santiago de Chile que fue exitosa en el sentido que gran parte del tumor fue extirpado y sin dejar secuelas. Estuve estable a partir de allí ayudado por médicos y quimioterapia y siguiendo con una vida normal llena de esas cosas que me gusta hacer, deporte, trabajo, viajes y compartiendo con mis seres queridos.
Desafortunadamente y para mi sorpresa, a finales del 2017, el tumor tuvo una nueva arremetida y con mayor agresividad, creciendo rápidamente y haciendo que por recomendación de los médicos tanto de Uruguay, Chile y a quienes he consultado en el exterior, recomienden tratarme en centros médicos que cuenten con la tecnología necesaria no solo a nivel tecnológico sino también en cuanto a la experiencia en casos similares.
Hoy las opciones son Estados Unidos (Houston o Nueva York) ya que los principales hospitales de allí cuentan con neuronavegador, resonador incorporado al quirófano, tecnologías laser y de rayos de última generación para la probable radio terapia post intervención quirúrgica. Cuentan además con una vasta experiencia en casos de estas características.
Hoy lo que me detiene de avanzar con esta alternativa es la cobertura ya que las mismas tienen topes ajustadas a la realidad de Sudamérica que distan mucho del costo de la atención con las capacidades que antes les mencione.
Es por eso y por la insistencia de mucha gente que quiere ayudar y se puso a disposición que prepare estas líneas apelando a su solidaridad y esperando que de la mano de ustedes pueda acceder al tratamiento.
De mi lado les puedo asegurar que mis ganas y animo están intactas y tengo la ilusión de que esta alternativa pueda acercarme a estar saludable nuevamente para seguir compartiendo con todos ustedes.
Muchas gracias!!!
Marcos
Organizer
Willy Sandoval
Organizer
Fort Lauderdale, FL
