Good News and Bad News…
The good news is that together, we can beat childhood cancer. An organization in Puerto Vallarta, Aid to Families of Children with Cancer (AFCC), has living proof.
Montse is 19 and is acing university, where she is studying to be a physiotherapist. This year she will be representing Mexico in a Special Olympics track and field meet in Colombia, where she’ll run in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. Although blind due to cancer, Montse will not let cancer beat her down.
Vianey is in her second year at the University of Guadalajara and in remission from the cancer she suffered as a teenager in 2016. She plans to be a pediatrician.
There are many other successes to tell you about, but there are also stories of the children who, sadly, died.
Vianey’s sister died when she was just seven. Little Mia, who was the “poster child” of the group for three years because of her laughter and bubbly personality, died when she was just seven. A month ago, Madeline, a young woman with Down syndrome, died at sixteen.
The AFCC provides help to about 20 Puerto Vallarta families who have children with cancer. Its coordinator, Aurora de la Torre, started the group in 2016. She is now helped by two survivors: Vianey, the future pediatrician, and 20-year-old Haidee, who is training to be a chef.
AFCC receives no government funding, so it relies solely on private donors, corporate sponsors, fundraisers and community organizations, such as the International Friendship Club (IFC). Donations can be made to AFCC through their GoGetFunding page.
Receiving the news that a child has been diagnosed with cancer is heartbreaking for any parent, family member, or friend. Not only does a cancer diagnosis turn a child’s entire world upside down, but overwhelming medical expenses can add an enormous amount of financial stress on families.
However, AFCC is there to help. It provides assistance to buy special, daily food, including the protein that is necessary for a full recovery. It gives money to buy medicines. Some sponsors arrange social events for all of the families, so each member gets the support they need. Others provide scholarships to kids who have cancer or are in remission for school and university. In some cases, funds are used to buy furniture and appliances. The volunteers of AFCC make sure that all their families get as much help as possible.
Some members of IFC have celebrated the wins and mourned the losses in the battles against cancer. We acknowledge the good news and the bad news.
Rick Scott, an American writer, who died of appendiceal cancer, wrote, “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
Very true!
Written by John Warren of the International Friendship Club.
The International Friendship Club is a registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C. It is located at the northeast corner of the Rio Cuale Bridge above the HSBC Bank, Colonia El Centro, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, 48300. Phone: 322-222-5466. Website: ifcvallarta.org Email: info(at)ifcvallarta.org