Sol y Vida

 
Location: Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
Website: www.solyvida.info
   
Sol y Vida currently supports 50 children with cancerous tumors by financing chemo and radiotherapy. Children are referred to us by the national children’s hospital - most of them are less than 10 years old.
The children come from families with monthly incomes of 150-350 USD. They have no health insurance, and therefore no access to affordable medical services. The treatment of tumors can be expensive depending on the type of tumor; however, there are children that require only 20 USD a month for their chemotherapy. According to the WHO, 80% of children with cancer can be cured if access to modern medicine is granted - Sol y Vida tries to save as many lives as possible with the help of donations.
The hospital that refers children to us is the main government children’s hospital in Ecuador. This means that our children don’t just come from Quito, but from all over the country. The journey to the city can be very arduous with a sick child. Some families travel by canoe or horseback for hours before they reach the nearest bus station where a bus takes them on a 5-8 hour journey to Quito. This is often the reason why the children only see a cancer specialist when the tumor has reached an advanced stage. In most cases the children are treated as outpatients, requiring numerous trips to the city throughout their treatment.
All our members work as volunteers. Virtually all donations go directly to pay for the medical care of the children - administrative costs are very low. Sol y Vida has agreements with private suppliers that allow us to access medical services at a much reduced cost, meaning that monetary donations go further and help more children. The large majority of children's cancers can be cured IF the child has access to the right treatment - donating to Sol y Vida makes this possible for families who would otherwise have no way to help their child.
(translated by betterplace)

Examples

by A. Büchel, created on 10 December 2007 at 03:48 PM

Edison’s treatment requires 300 USD a monthSeven year old Edison suffers from Papiloma Laringa, a virus infection of his vocal cords, which left him without voice for a while. His father, a laborer has just abandoned the family for another woman and his mother is trying to receive alimonies while she has found a job which earns her 50 USD a month. Edison is taking medication called “Interferon 30” since nine months. His monthly dose costs 300 USD (a special price granted to Sol y Vida by the Pharma Corporation). It is anticipated that his total treatment will last for one year. In the meantime Edison has regained his voice thanks to his medical treatment and speech therapy. He attends school and his prognosis for lasting health is very good.

Jennifer’s treatment requires 410 USD a monthEleven year old Jennifer had a brain tumor which was operated on a year ago. Since then she is nearly blind. She lives with her family with four younger siblings in the northern city of Ibarra. Her father, who earned 140 USD a month, has just emigrated to Spain to try to support the family from there. Jennifer’s mother takes care of the children at home. Jennifer had always been an enthusiastic student at school. Now her mother is searching for a school that caters for children with visual deficiencies, which is not easy to come across in Ecuador. Jennifer continues to take a medicine called “Temodal”. Her monthly dose for 410 USD is having obvious positive effects. Since she is taking Temodal, Jennifer can see the difference between day and night again.

Joselyn’s treatment requires 215 USD Joselyn is 1 ½ year old. A Year ago she was detected with a tumor in her vagina. Her young parents with three children live near Quito. Her father ears 200 USD a month as a carpenter. Joselyn needed magnetic resonance images for 215 USD . Her prognosis for cure is very positive.

Jefferson’s treatment requires 20 USD a monthSeven year old Jefferson was detected with a Wilms tumor (kidneys). He is receiving monthly chemotherapy that costs on average between 15 and 20 USD a month. Neither one of his parents have a fixed monthly income that allows them to pay for Jefferson’s treatment. Jefferson, an only child for his 22 year old mother, lives with his grandmother in a remote Andean village in the province of Pichincha. Jefferson’s prognosis for cure is good and his chemotherapy will be finalized in two to three months.

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