AFLAC lights up lives

by Surekha GALAGODA

Children are gifts from god but why do they have to undergo such pain and suffering? This was uppermost in my mind when I saw so many children suffering from cancer and the problem becomes even more grave when their parents don't have the money to spend for their basic needs.

Parents want the best for their children, but when their children suffer the only option available for them is to bear the agony with a bold face and go through the day and cry at night.

The Association for Light a Candle (AFLAC) under the guidance of Capt. Elmo Jayawardena recently entertained most of the patients with food and drink as well as a play by Tennyson Cooray to give them a little happiness at least, for a few hours, said Captain Jayawardena.

In his invitation letter he said " We all have children. They are so important to us".

AFLAC works with little children who are plagued with cancer we have a sponsorship program "As most of the parents are very poor". I know this first hand information as I meet these parents often when they visit the AFLAC office seeking assistance.

AFLAC has an annual party at the Cancer Hospital. It is to make a difference - EVEN FOR A DAY - for people who are surrounded by pain and injections coupled with fading hope that could become hopeless."

Broken hand

P.P. Sumali Anuradha has a tumour in the brain and she has been suffering from it since 1991. She was only two-and-a-half years when doctors diagnosed that she was having a tumour. From then the mother and daughter have been in and out of hospital. "This time too she is suffering with a headache and vomits. Doctors have asked us to come as soon as she complains of a headache, but we are poor people and find it difficult to come as soon as she feels sick" said the mother, Sujatha Padmini.

"We are from Yatiyana, Matara and finding the money for travelling itself is a nightmare. To come to Colombo we have to leave home at one in the morning and this time too she was down and out and vomits while travelling in the bus. I accompany her as we cannot afford travelling expenses for another person. Some of my children are married and the son who is in the Army helps us a great deal although he is married. My husband is enable to work as he is suffering with a broken hand."

When she is ill I borrow money and take her to Colombo and my son has to meet the expenses. As a young girl she also has many dreams and wishes despite her illness. One of her dreams is to wear a gold chain, but I just can't afford it. Does this mean that she will never get to wear gold chain or nice clothes?.

She has two tubes inserted into her brain. Now she is on saline and injections. When we come to Colombo the doctors at the hospital prescribe various medicines to be purchased from outside and we don't have anybody in the city even to borrow a cent. Therefore, If I could get some help for my child I would be eternally grateful, said Sujatha Padmini.

Thirteen-year-old Dulika Malshani Ranaweera, a grade 8 student at Ananda Madya Maha Vidyalaya Galle came home one day in August and complained that she saw double of everything -be it people or objects. The mother got the shock of her life and took her to a doctor as she was also complaining of a headache. I thought that she needs a pair of spectacles and took her to Colombo immediately on the instructions of a relative. In the bus too she vomited. She was admitted to the Ragama Hospital where a MRI Scan was done. Thereafter she was transferred to the Colombo General Hospital where a second MRI scan was done and we were told that she was diagnosed with cancer and that it had attacked her up to the spine. Once a sunt was inserted into her brain. She was transferred to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital where the operation was done by Dr Kanthi Perera. Since then the mother and daughter have been in hospital and the daughter gets about on a wheel chair.

Helpless

"One day she was hale and hearty playing with her siblings and the next day she was confined to a wheel chair.

"I am helpless as my husband is attached to the Wallawali police station and he is enable to come home often. If my husband could get a transfer I would be really grateful. Earlier, I used to do sewing at home and now everything is at a standstill. We have to manage everything with my husband's salary which includes attending to the needs of the other two children and her needs as well. Therefore, I would appreciate some financial help for her. "I brought her to Colombo to check her sight and buy her a pair of spectacles but today she can't even walk and her `small body' had to undergo an operation and she also suffers much pain, but thankfully the doctors give her the best attention and care which is a great relief for me. I just wish and pray that I could have my healthy child so that we could all be happy again in one home.

The hospital staff said that the program, "Lama Lovata Mal Wehala" was one of its kind where everybody was entertained with food and drink. The next time you feel inclined to spend lavishly just think of your children, brothers and sisters who are suffering in pain even without the basic needs. This pain can affect any of us. Therefore, let us be compassionate and light a candle in their lives and see their happy faces.

AFLAC dedicated 1999 as its "Year for Cancer". In January 1999 we began in a small way to reach out to those who are afflicted with cancer, and those who are also living in poverty. To this end, AFLAC selected ten cancer patients for assistance, mainly recommended by the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. To date, this programme has served 463 patients from all districts of Sri Lanka.

Sponsorship

As is customary in all AFLAC projects, each patient is allocated a co-ordinator to act as the link between AFLAC and the patient. It is through the co-ordinator that a monthly nutritional supplement to the value of Rs. 1,800 is given to the patient. This supplement includes mainly medicines, vitamins and nutritional foods that have been recommended by their doctors. It is the responsibility of the coordinator to ensure that the donation is used for the purpose intended. The coordinator is also required to monitor the patient's progress. Coordinators observe and bring to AFLAC's notice other basic requirements of the patient and family and AFLAC endeavours to fulfil such requirements whenever possible. Sponsorships are solicited for a minimum period of one year with the sponsor being able to make the contribution quarterly, bi-annually or annually. AFLAC will allocate to each donor a patient whose details are made available. Donors must bear in mind that their sponsored patient may succumb to this unfortunate disease. In such an event, AFLAC will automatically transfer the sponsorship to another patient. Sponsors will be informed of these occurrences.

Prospective sponsors need to complete a Sponsor Detail Form (Form ACF 80) and submit it to AFLAC together with their donation cheque drawn in favour of "AFLAC International". The sponsorship donation is USD 18 per month (Rs. 1,800). The donation for the entire year is USD 215 (Rs. 21,600).

AFLAC disburses Rs. 1,800 per month to the coordinator to purchase and deliver the pre-determined medical and nutritional supplement to the patient.