(CMR) Juan Mata Pena, who was diagnosed with aggressive Burkitt or Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, is seeking the help of the Cayman community to help him fight this disease. Pena has been in the United States since last September receiving treatment.
The brother of Florita Bodden shared his story on social media and via Go Fund Me as he seeks to raise funds to help with medication, his hotel stay among the many expenses not covered by his insurance.
Pena explained he started experiencing excrutiating abdominal pain last August and was taken to the HSA hospital where several tests were done.
After doing many blood tests, ultrasounds, xrays, CT scans and a MRI, doctors found was a small growth on his gallbladder, and knowing he had done his second kidney transplant in 2020, the decision was atken to send him off island for treatment.
Several tests in the US revealed he has a tumor in his stomach the size of a deflated foot ball that had entered his small intestines and caused a massive blockage.
“I had a major surgery on September 9th and had to kept sedated because they did not remove the tumor, they only removed the blockage, because removing the tumor would have caused more damage to my already frail health,” Pena explained.
He said if he had waited longer to have this surgery, doctors believed he would have died.
“A few days after the life saving surgery, I was diagnosed with the most Aggressive Burkitts Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I have been doing an aggressive chemotherapy and I am not allowed to leave the USA to return home not until I have completed my chemo and another major surgery to reattach my intestines God willing,” Pena shared.
He said family and friends have been assisting him as much as they can, but the expenses for the hotel, food, medication andother expenses not covered by his insurance is putting a financial strain on his family especially my sister and father.
Those who wish to make a donation to Pena can do so to account 20206942 at The Fidelity Bank N/O Juan Mata Pena.
Donations can also be made gthrough GoFundMe by following this link.
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