Good Morning Angels Extra (Vijilia)

20-year old Vijilia is on her way to get her life saving bone marrow transplant - thanks to the generosity of JacarandaFM listeners!

 

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Last Wednesday, Good Morning Angels asked you to help raise funds for Vijilia Esquino from Nelspruit.

 

She is 20-years old and should be in the prime of her life. Instead, Vijilia is extremely ill and fighting for her life. She was diagnosed with an acute form of Leukemia a few years ago and she's been fighting ever since. Her family has gone above and beyond to help her. After several rounds of treatment, they thought the battle was over - until last Christmas Eve.

 

The cancer was back with a vengeance and this time, its in her spinal fluid.

 

Vijilia has been in hospital since then: unable to walk or speak. A donor was found in Brazil: a search that has drained all the funds the family had raised.

 

This past week, Vijilia's condition has made a turn for the worst. This morning, Vijilia is on her way from Pretoria to Cape Town for the pre-transplant treatment.

 

Initially we asked you to help raise the R50 000,00 needed to get the bone marrow to SA. Since then, the family were informed that the medical aid would not cover the R150 000,00 for the special medical flight to Cape Town - and then there is still the R82 500,00 needed for the pre-transplant treatment: 5 viles that each cost R16 500,00.

 

A total of R282 500,00 needed now ...

 

Our listeners have contributed all of these funds and more. Up to date, R284 000,00 has been paid into the Vijilia medical account. THANK YOU!!!!

 

 

This is excluding the R30 000,00 from the Good Morning Angels Fund and R22 000,00 raised at a golf day in Hoedspruit this weekend. That brings the total to R339 000,00 of selfless kindness and generosity.

 

Please keep Vijilia and the medical staff tasked to help her in your hearts, as the next few weeks are crucial.

 

 

We will keep you posted on her recovery.

 

 

 

Become an angel today:

 

You can be an angel and contribute directly into a savings account for Vijilia’s medical expenses:

 

Account Name – P Esquino 

ABSA Savings account – 9117455395

Branch Code: 334552

 

If you would like to register as a bone marrow donor, to help one of the thousands of others who need transplants, you can contact the Sunflower Fund for all the info:

 

Call 0800-12-10-82 or get more info on: www.sunflowerfund.org.za

 

 

 

Registration process

 

Joining the SABMR is simple:

 

Bone marrow stem cell donor recruitment – quick reference page

Thank you for enquiring about becoming a bone marrow stem cell donor on the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR). Please read this information carefully.

 

 

 

CRITERIA TO BECOME A DONOR:

 

Fund Toll Free Number 0800 1210 82 weekdays 08:30am – 13:00pm or 14:00 - 16:30pm

 

You need to call The Sunflower so that we can make sure that you meet the criteria and will then complete your SABMR/Sunflower Fund Application Form with a Reference Number.

 

If you are not able to donate an amount towards the cost of your blood test (R2000), you will be added to the waiting list and when funds become available we will forward your form and direct you to the closest Donor Recruitment Clinic.

 

There you will give them the completed form and they will take a small blood sample – 2 test tubes. Your blood sample is then analysed and put on the national database.

 

Registered donors will in due course be sent a donor card by the SABMR. It is most likely that the next time the SABMR will contact you will be if you are identified as a suitable match for a patient. But please keep us informed of any changes to your name, address and contact

details so that we can find you as quickly as possible if you are a suitable match.

 

Donors will only be called back to donate stem cells if they are ever a perfect match for a patient. The donation is a minor medical procedure with little discomfort – a full description can be found in the information overleaf.

 

 

Committed to helping anyone

 

Between 18-45 years old

 

General good health (not at risk of contracting hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases)

 

Weigh over 50kg

 

 

Do not register as a bone marrow stem cell donor if:

 

 

 

You may be at risk of HIV or Hepatitis - B (HBV) or C (HCV) if you:

 

You will remain on the South African Bone Marrow Registry until you are 60 years old.

 

 

 

An important consideration when becoming a donor

 

It is vital that prospective donors realise that by joining the South African Bone Marrow Registry they could be called for anyone needing a transplant, and not just the patient who first motivated them to join. People are often keen to join the registry when they know the patient or when they become emotionally involved through press articles.

 

However, some donors who have been perfect matches for someone else are unwilling to donate, saying that they only joined the registry for one person! This is tragic, not only because money to test and register the donors was wasted, but those donors may have been the other patients’ only hope for survival. Please think seriously about joining the registry as it is an important commitment. Note that

if you sign up and drop out at a later stage, it costs time and money and could cost lives.

 

 

 

Donor confidentiality

 

All sensitive personal information is strictly confidential and can only be accessed by authorised staff. In compliance with international agreement, strict anonymity is maintained between donor and patient.

 

 

 

Our Payment Policy

 

The Sunflower Fund depends largely on donations from the public. We ask all donors to consider donating generously towards the more accurate molecular (DNA) testing which costs R2000.00. The full test costs The Sunflower Fund R2000. There are 4 donation options: R350, R750, R1400 or the full test amount of R2000. We would be extremely grateful if you are

able to donate anything towards the cost of your test. There is no such thing

as a small donation, every bit helps. (See overleaf on how patients and donors are matched).

 

Section 18A Certificates can be requested for your donation. After completing your application form, donors will be asked to deposit their donation in The Sunflower Fund bank account and fax or email their proof of payment to us. Your form will then be sent to you so that you can go for your blood test. Should you not be able to donate anything towards the cost of the test you will be added to the waiting list and when funds become available you will be sent your SABMR Application Form.

 

 

 

Banking Details

 

Account Name: THE SUNFLOWER FUND

 

Bank: ABSA 4051 834 719

Ref: Sunflower Ref. Number (given on registration to register call 0800 12 10 82)

 

Fax or email Proof of Payment:

 

Fax No. 021 701 6790 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

 

 

The medical procedure for obtaining stem cells from the blood is called a harvest. If you were asked to donate, you would be required to attend a specialist harvest centre in South Africa. A full medical examination will be carried out and if you are still agreeable, growth factor (G-CSF)* injections will be administered. These will increase the production of the stem cells in the bone marrow. These excess stem cells enter the bloodstream from where they are harvested using a cell separator machine. This minor medical procedure with minimal discomfort entails you being connected to the machine by an intravenous line (similar to donating blood or platelets) for 4 – 6 hours, possibly on two consecutive days. The precious bone marrow stem cells are filtered out of your blood and your own blood then returned to you. Thus you are able to go home immediately afterwards.

 

The harvest will take place in a private ward and the donor is often admitted for the night preceding the harvest as this has proved to be most comfortable and convenient, particularly if the donor is from out of town.

 

* Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). This is a protein which also occurs naturally in the body. It is given in order to mobilize the stem cells out of the bone marrow and into the circulating blood, where they can be collected for transplant. A ll individuals are at risk for developing cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma or other blood diseases throughout their life time. G-CSF stimulates normal cell growth. In some patients with cancer or abnormal blood cells, it has been shown to stimulate leukemic blood cells. It is unknown whether G-CSF increases or decreases an individual’s risk of developing cancer. Based on available data from healthy people who have received G-CSF, no long-term risks have been found so far. The data being collected during follow-up of donors worldwide will help establish if there are any or long-term effects from receiving G-CSF.

 

Approved: SABMR Board - 23 November 2007.

 

 

Are there any side effects for the donor?

 

 

Sibling transplants have been taking place for over 20 years; a short term side effect is flu-like symptoms during G-CSF stimulation; some donors have also reported mild bone pain.

 

 

Why are unrelated donors needed?

 

Although family members – brothers and sisters in particular – may offer the closest matches, unfortunately 75% of patients will not have a suitable sibling,

so have to search elsewhere.

 

How are donors and patients matched?

 

In the same way as red cell blood groups exist, so white cells can be categorised into groups known as “tissue types”. Thousands of tissue types exist, so finding the correct match depends upon having a very large register of donors. Because people’s genetic makeup is so varied and their tissue types are inherited characteristics, the chance of finding a suitable match can be slim. The likelihood of finding a matching donor will be considerably greater in donors from the same ethnic background as the patient.

 

Unfortunately the serological testing method is outdated and has become less reliable, but there is hope. DNA or molecular testing which is an exceptionally reliable test has been implemented at a cost of R2000.

 

It is much faster than serological testing and far more accurate. Regrettably, this testing is exceedingly more expensive, but it will save more lives and no price can be put on a life.

 

Ethnicity of Donors

 

In South Africa we have even more unique combinations of tissue types. Therefore it is very important that we have our own registry and the larger that registry, the greater and faster the chance of finding a perfect match. We desperately need donors from all ethnic groups and mixed ethnic

backgrounds.

 

Can I change my Mind?

 

Most donors are delighted to hear that they have been chosen to donate - after all, that's why they joined the Registry. A potential donor may decline at any time. There is however, a point of no return for the patient.

 

 

 

When is the point of no return?

 

This stage is reached about a week before the actual donation when the patient’s own bone marrow is destroyed with high doses of chemotherapy in preparation for receiving the harvested stem cells. At this point the donor is seen to have a moral obligation to proceed because without the donation of

stem cells the patient will die.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact The Sunflower Fund should you require any further information or assistance.

 

Email: [email protected]

 

Website: www.sunflowerfund.org.za

 

 

Toll free number: 0800 12 10 82

 

 

Thank you for being prepared to “Share a little, save a life.”