Ian is five years old he turned yesterday, and wonderful parents who have managed to gather almost 10,000 people in a Facebook group, with one goal: to raise the money they need to get a medical treatment at the Memorial-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Ian also has a sister named Aisha whose life has changed a lot, and who is proving to be very brave. This family lives in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia.
The little one was diagnosed with a type of childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma It affects the Central Nervous System, when it was only two years old. And although in his case the prognosis was unfavorable both his family and doctors have fought against the progression of the disease.
Chemotherapy, surgery, bone marrow transplantation ... and finally a recommendation made to them at the Sant Joan de Déu hospital (Barcelona): complete at least four cycles of a immunotherapy treatment in the United States. This can increase the child's survival: you can imagine that Montserrat and Juande (the parents) did not hesitate to achieve this goal. Ian has already been able to perform two of the treatment cycles, although each of them comes to cost about 50,000 euros. It is not easy for a working family to collect those amounts, but the organization of various events and the help of an association called NEN, have at least allowed to increase the hope of struggling parents.
I have seen several photos of this child and in none of them he loses his smile, and that despite living a very hard experience, of those that nobody would want for any smallOf course he has reason to be happy, he is making great progress in improving his health. It must also be said that the multiple manifestations of affection he receives through social networks also contribute to joy.
And behind each of the words of encouragement, virtual hugs, dedications and songs, there is a person or company that is collaborating so that Ian can continue traveling to New York. I know that I should not highlight any of the initiatives above anyone, I know that any small gesture is decisive, and I am aware of what collective strength can achieve no matter how small the contributions are.
But still, I would like to tell you that the Milola de Mataró pastry shop has organized a sweet marathon for the third, fourth and fifth days of August: each of the two euros raised for the purchase of their 'red velvet' cupcakes, will go to Ian's account, in addition to those who can not go there to taste a sweet and supportive snack, a 'zero line' has been arranged in which virtual cupcakes can be purchased, which will be donated to the oncology department Joan de Déu's children´s playground.
But in addition many anonymous collaborators (or not so much) are collecting caps, sewing little hearts or voluntarily organizing a Sports Day for next September. Because people are able to show that we want the best for others
And I would also like to share with you the news that made us all smile and rejoice for this family: Delta Airlines has offered three round-trip tickets from Barcelona to New York, for the next trip they make.
Surely there have been many moments of despair, and many tears shed, and perhaps sometimes impotence has been cast into the hearts of this family in a situation that the child should not be living.
But now it is time to keep hope, to support the efforts of Juande and Monserrat, who by the way just announced through Facebook that there are possibilities of receiving funding for the next two cycles of treatment. This would be fantastic news, right?
(Thanks Adrian Troncoso for sharing with us the story of little Ian)
