Since Allis (the girl with thyroid cancer, about whom I've reported periodically, here) has been doing so well, her visits to the States are now only twice a year and have been more eventful for weather delays, and the like, than for anything medical.
No problems were found on her recent visit and, almost 16, now, she continues to grow like a weed (I guess Synthroid really DOES help - LOL!).
Even though the NIH still provides for the airfare, along with any tests, medications or treatments that they give, we still have about $800/year of expenses on this end - half of that for the local side of the travel and the other half for lab tests that the NIH asks us to have done half-way between trips.
Unfortunately, a group of ENT doctors who used to come here every May not only stopped coming last year (due to their own budget problems and since their insurance stopped covering them in Honduras, because of the reported levels of violence), but also stopped giving us the money to pay for the the tests and local travel. At the time, someone at the NIH found a one-time source of SOME money that they were able to send us, but that was only available once and if we get all the tests that they want in July, that will leave us about $40 short for being able to get Allis and her mother to the airport for their next trip in October.
If any of you know of any organisations that help with this kind of thing, please send me a PM and let me know. This isn't for the flight's, themselves, but for the costs of buses and taxis for them to get to and from the airport, for the "airport taxes" and other fees, and for some cash they can use to eat in the U.S. airport while waiting for their connecting flights. It's also for a battery of medical laboratory tests, such as typical "blood work," thyroid levels, etc. at a local clinic between the actual trips to the States. I can receive some funds, myself, if necessary, but I am not a doctor nor part of any non-profit group, so the money could be sent to my doctor friend, here (who currently holds the funds that we do have), instead, if necessary. The main thing is that it would be for medical and local-travel expenses, but NOT for the actual flights (thus, the organisations that pay for airline tickets for cancer patients are not helpful, in this case).
Thanks.
No problems were found on her recent visit and, almost 16, now, she continues to grow like a weed (I guess Synthroid really DOES help - LOL!).
Even though the NIH still provides for the airfare, along with any tests, medications or treatments that they give, we still have about $800/year of expenses on this end - half of that for the local side of the travel and the other half for lab tests that the NIH asks us to have done half-way between trips.
Unfortunately, a group of ENT doctors who used to come here every May not only stopped coming last year (due to their own budget problems and since their insurance stopped covering them in Honduras, because of the reported levels of violence), but also stopped giving us the money to pay for the the tests and local travel. At the time, someone at the NIH found a one-time source of SOME money that they were able to send us, but that was only available once and if we get all the tests that they want in July, that will leave us about $40 short for being able to get Allis and her mother to the airport for their next trip in October.
If any of you know of any organisations that help with this kind of thing, please send me a PM and let me know. This isn't for the flight's, themselves, but for the costs of buses and taxis for them to get to and from the airport, for the "airport taxes" and other fees, and for some cash they can use to eat in the U.S. airport while waiting for their connecting flights. It's also for a battery of medical laboratory tests, such as typical "blood work," thyroid levels, etc. at a local clinic between the actual trips to the States. I can receive some funds, myself, if necessary, but I am not a doctor nor part of any non-profit group, so the money could be sent to my doctor friend, here (who currently holds the funds that we do have), instead, if necessary. The main thing is that it would be for medical and local-travel expenses, but NOT for the actual flights (thus, the organisations that pay for airline tickets for cancer patients are not helpful, in this case).
Thanks.
If blueberry muffins have blueberries in them, what do vegan muffins have?