Agnes' Story
Agnes reported with abdominal distension and severe pain. She was diagnosed with Abdominal Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Her mother, an unemployed widow, could barely afford even the transportation costs to the clinic. Agnes’ treatment was sponsored by the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation, and having finished her last cycle of treatment, she is now in remission.
Benjamin's Story
Little 5 year old Benjamin is a boy who reported with severe anemia and nose bleeds, and after some tests, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Financially, it was a huge burden for Benjamin’s parents to come up with the 1700cedis (~$560) to fund his treatment. Through the help of treatment paid for by the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation, little Benjamin was able to complete the ALL protocol through to the maintenance phase of chemotherapy.
Priscilla Kusi
Priscilla Kusi was 6 years old when her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, which is a type of childhood cancer. Her mother noticed a small swelling at the left side of her daughter’s eye, which she reported to several clinics and was later referred to KATH, a six hour commute from their small village, Basinyiri, in the Western Region of Ghana. At KATH she was diagnosed with cancer which was a very big blow to her. When she was counselled about the treatment and cost involved she was very devastated because she was unemployed and Priscilla's father was a peasant farmer. A month after Priscilla's diagnosis, her father died in a motor accident, which left her mother to be the sole breadwinner of the family with five children to look after. "It has been really difficult for me to take care of her and the other children alone but my only hope is from God” she said. She now depends on the small farm her husband left behind to support their kids. Priscilla's mother was relieved when she was told about the sponsorship from the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation, which would cover most of the treatments Priscilla would receive. From this sponsorship, little Priscilla is on her 9th cycle of chemotherapy and will be completing her chemotherapy cycles soon.
Daniel's Story
DANIEL is a 2 year old boy from Sepe-Buokrom in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. At age 1, his mother noticed a beam of light in the child’s eye anytime she looked at her son which alarmed her and caused her to report to a nearby Hospital where he was given some medications and later referred to KATH for further management and diagnosis.
At KATH, he was diagnosed with Bilateral Retinoblastoma which is a type of childhood cancer of the eye. After hearing the news that her son had cancer, she cried uncontrollably when she was given the final prognosis, treatment pathway, the cost of treatment and the effects of chemotherapy on the child. In her words - “Upon getting home, I did not eat that night; my only thought being how I would manage to raise the money for my son’s treatment”. Daniel’s mother is unemployed and her husband, the sole breadwinner, did not have enough salary to sustain the family.
When she reported back to the clinic, she was told that some of the chemotherapy drugs were for free and also Daniel’s diagnostic laboratory tests were going to be paid for by the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation. Her joy knew no bounds. Her child is alive because of the help she received. She is very thankful and continues to be thankful to the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation for the kind gesture shown her and prays all other children suffering from cancer will also benefit from this kind gesture from the Foundation.
Melody's Story
Melody is a sickle cell patient who resides with her parents at Abidjan-Nkwanta, a small village in the Ashanti region of Ghana. She was 11 years when she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. This news devastated the entire family since they had to deal with something else in addition to the sickle cell disease, she was already battling with.
Melody’s mother noticed a small swelling at the left side of her abdomen which she reported to a local hospital and was later referred to KATH where they realized that, the lump in her stomach was not related to sickle cell disease but a type of cancer called Neuroblastoma. Her parents were later counselled and given the prognosis which they really could not come to terms with, since they claimed the child was already suffering enough.
Her father, a trader and mother, a hairdresser, did not know where to turn to when they were told the total cost of treatment as it was not something they could afford. Melody’s father was very relieved when he was told of the sponsorship from the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation. She has been benefitting from most of the chemotherapy drugs purchased by the Foundation and also benefits from the diagnostic funds for her laboratory investigations. Melody has undergone surgery and is on her way towards recovery. The entire family is eternally grateful to the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation for the gesture of support.
Fairuza's Story
Fairuza comes from Ejisu, a peri-urban area in the Ashanti region of Ghana and takes about 2 hours to commute to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Fairuza was malnourished, pale, lean, had a swollen mass on the left side of her face, bleeding and swollen gums amongst other symptoms before being admitted to the Paediatric Oncology clinic at KATH, where after running several diagnostic tests, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, which is a blood cancer.
After being counselled on the prognosis, treatment, cost of treatment and the side effects of chemotherapy, the Fairuza’s mother shed tears. After receiving treatment, Fairuza can now partake in activities she previously could not engage in. She stated that if it had not been for the support of the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation, her child would not have survived up to this point. To this, she says Thank you to the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation.
Margaret's Story
Margaret is an inhabitant of Atonsu-Buokro, a village in the Ashanti region of Ghana. She was nine months old when she was diagnosed with Sacroccygeal teratoma, a subgroup of Germ cell tumor which is a type of childhood cancer.
Margaret was born with a right gluteal mass and her mother realized that the mass had started to grow in size when she was nine months old which she immediately reported to the Kumasi South Hospital where she was given medications and later referred to KATH for further management. At KATH, she was diagnosed with cancer which was a big blow to her mother. After both parents were counselled about the treatment and the cost involved, Margaret’s mother who was unemployed said based on their current financial standing they would need to defer treatment since they could not currently afford it. But upon being educated on the support being offered by the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation, they were very relieved and decided to commence treatment. “Four months after having started chemotherapy, my child looks well”, said Margaret’s mother, “and I thank the Georgina Y Baidoo Foundation for their kindness towards my child in terms of the support for the chemotherapy and the laboratory support. God bless the entire team of the GeorginaY Baidoo Foundation.”
Janet Asifiri
Janet, a six month old baby, comes from Osino in the Eastern region of Ghana, which is about five hours to commute to KATH. When Janet's mom noticed a whitish patch on her child's left eye, she reported to a local clinic in her community where she was given medication and later referred to KATH for further diagnosis. At KATH, Janet was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, which is a type of childhood cancer of the eye. Janet's mother was initially reluctant when told her child had cancer, wondering how a six month old baby could be diagnosed with cancer, and even thought it was a curse. During the counselling she cried uncontrollably, especially when she was told about the prognosis, cost involved, and the number of times she would need to bring Janet for chemotherapy. She could only think of how to get money for her child’s treatment and traveling the long distance for treatment. They defaulted for six months when starting treatment because coming every week was very difficult for them. When she reported back to the hospital, she was told about she will get some of her chemotherapy drugs for free. Janet has been on treatment since then and will be completing very soon.