March 14, 2012

White Dog and The White Dog Army

Wonderful World Wednesday

White Dog often reads the heart-breaking stories of families forced from their homes or people denied medical treatment for financial reasons. The White Dog Army knows what a thin line sometimes separates surviving from falling into the cracks. Deep in our hearts we are certain that given the opportunity and means any one would reach out a saving hand to prevent these tragedies.

The WDA believes the idea of paying it forward is a natural reaction for most when good fortune blesses them. It is that instinct, to help, to share, that convinces us that the World is full of wonderful strangers who help because it is “the right thing to do.” Whether a handknit donation for a charity auction, $10 to help a fellow blogger’s vet bills or $51,632.00 to fund cancer treatment, we find hope and promise in these acts. What would you do if you had $1,000,000 to share?

Father with 10 brain tumours refused cancer drug has £33,000 ($51,632.00 US)

treatment paid for by total stranger

By Rebecca Seales and Rob King, March 6, 2012

New hope: Glen Cunningham, with partner Yasmin Malik and son Glen, can hardly believe that a total stranger has agreed to pay for him to receive a life-prolonging drug

The family of a man with 10 brain tumours say their prayers have been answered after a generous stranger agreed to pay for a life-prolonging drug denied to him by the NHS.

Father-of-two Glen Cunningham, 29, who suffers from a rare form of cancer called gliosarcoma, had been planning a fundraising mission after he was refused Avastin, a ‘wonder-drug’ which costs £33,500 per year.

But he now hopes to spend more time with his partner and young children after a property developer decided to donate the entire sum himself.

Kenny Vickers, 34, and wife Melody, 33, whose youngest son is fighting for life after being born prematurely, were touched by a report of Mr Cunningham's plight in a local newspaper.

Speaking after Cunningham and his family travelled to Sheffield for more treatment, his partner Yasmin Malik, 26, said: 'I am honestly stunned.

'I don’t quite know what to say. I never thought for one minute there would be people in the world as generous as this, it’s not sinking in.

Cunningham, a plasterer from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, hopes the drug will shrink his tumours, two of which are inoperable, and extend his life, giving him more time to spend with daughter Lauren, seven, and a 10-month-old son, also named Glen.

South Tyneside Primary Care Trust (PCT) had said there wasn’t enough evidence the injections, which are licensed by the Government, would help him.

Vickers, of the Isle of Skye, also has a home in South Shields and read of Cunningham's predicament in their local newspaper, the Shields Gazette.

He said he and his wife were in 'floods of tears' at Mr. Cunningham's circumstances.

'We are lucky enough to be quite comfortable financially and so we would like to give Glen the chance to see his children grow up and spend more time with them,' he added.

'To me life is everything and very precious, and I want to give Glen the quality time he deserves with his family.'

But Vickers, a father of seven, is also facing a troubled time in his own family.

His youngest child, 10-week-old Preston, is fighting for life after being born 14 weeks prematurely, weighing just 1lbs 11.5 ozs and is in South Tyneside District Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit.

Preston has suffered from two holes in his bowel, plus a double hernia and needs further surgery at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary on Thursday.

Vickers said: 'We have children and we know how difficult it can be, especially at the moment, so we know what it’s like to be going through hard times.

'We wish Glen and his family the best of luck and we just hope our gift will help.

'If he needs anything else, all he has to do is ask.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2110987/Father-10-brain-tumours-refused-cancer-drug-33-000-cost-treatment-met-total-stranger.html#ixzz1oTr2IbPh

Tomorrow is the day, momma's palindromic birthday (55)! Today we celebrated with Dragon and Sen-ge and Gregg and Candace...there is no better gift than loving friends! Why is it that humans cry when they are happy AND when they are sad? We think momma was very very happy even though she was leaking. THE WHITE DOG ARMY