Relatives of a man in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant are appealing for financial contributions to ensure he gets the life-saving surgery.
According to Tricia Stephens Joseph, her husband, Andre, a father of a young boy, was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in 2013 and every year since his diagnosis, had visited Moffit Cancer Center in Florida where the cancer’s activity would be monitored. However, because of the pandemic and border closures, he was unable to do so in 2020 and the cancer started progressing significantly, so much so that he fell gravely ill in January 2021 and was hospitalised.
Mrs. Stephens said by late April, the cancer became more aggressive and his doctor in Trinidad urgently consulted with his doctor at Moffit who recommended that Andre be taken to the Cancer Center without delay. While there, he was diagnosed with a secondary cancer in his bone marrow, CLL, peripheral neuropathy, Richter’s syndrome, and splenomegaly. His initial stay was a month, thereafter he required outpatient clinical care.
In the last eight months, Mr. Stephens was hospitalised six times for repeat chemotherapy sessions and post chemotherapy issues. Now, one year since this ordeal began, they have been told that Andre requires an immediate bone marrow transplant as it is the only thing that will give him a chance to live.
A Go Fund Me Account has been set up for Andre at https://gofund.me/e317b0ac
In appealing for assistance, Mrs. Stephen said, “Andre has so much to live for, and our young son and I need him around for many years to come. The most honest, kind, and loving man that I have ever known, Andre has always made sure that we were well taken care of. Today, I am appealing to everyone and anyone who knows Andre and to those who will get to know him in the coming weeks, for help in raising these much-needed funds. Any amount you donate we’d greatly appreciate.”
For those who can only donate TT dollars, you can make an online deposit/transfer to RBC Savings Account 110000002721274 in the name of Andre Joseph.