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MoneyMedical & healthUrgent

Standing with Irene: a rare sarcoma treatment costs

4 rounds of treatment are planned at Dar es Salaam Regional Medical Center; we're asking for help with the costs insurance doesn't cover.

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟ Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania3,000 views
Irene Grace Onyango
Email verified
Dar es Salaam
In August I was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. My oncology team at Dar es Salaam Regional Medical Center has planned 4 rounds of treatment, and the first starts in November. I was told to expect about 10 weeks away from work. I never imagined I'd be writing something like this. I'm 46, I worked as a primary school teacher until August, and I have been the main earner for my household. Treatment is covered only in part. Medication that isn't on the approved list, transport to Dar es Salaam Regional Medical Center 4 times a week, and the income I have lost add up quickly. My family is doing everything they can, but we've already sold what we could and are borrowing for groceries. I'll post every invoice and receipt as an update so donors can follow where each gift goes. Where the $1,150 goes: โ€ข Chemotherapy and medication not covered: $630 โ€ข Household costs while unable to work: $270 โ€ข Scans and lab work: $180 โ€ข Nutrition and supplements prescribed by the care team: $70 Thanks for reading all this.
#cancer#treatment#family#medical

Updates from Irene

  1. 91% there. the plan for nutrition and supplements prescribed by the care team is now scheduled. Thank you.

  2. Thank you all. We're at 26% now ($301). I'm honestly stunned. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit.

  3. Thank you all. We're at 48% now ($553). I'm honestly stunned. I met with the treatment center and confirmed the amounts.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Mandla B. Cloete ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $20

    โ€œBest of luck. Gave what I could this week. - Sowetoโ€

  • Kana Kimura ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ยท $64

    โ€œKeep your head up. Only $64 but hope it helps. - Shinjukuโ€

  • Isaiah W. Sanchez ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $30
  • Na Shan Yang ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $40.50
  • Kylie Long ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ยท $10
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $5

    โ€œHope it all works out. Only $5 but hope it helps. - Sylhetโ€

  • Jordan R. Sims ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $50
  • Chang-min Ki-tae Kwak ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $20
  • Dennis Bautista ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ยท $50
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ยท $20
  • Chรขu Hแบฑng Mai ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $5
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $200

    โ€œBest of luck. Gave what I could this week. - Mangaluruโ€

  • Zahid Hasan Roy ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $50

    โ€œGet well soon. Thought of Irene all day after reading this.โ€

  • Patricia F. Soriano ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ยท $25
  • Chukwuemeka Garba Ekwueme ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $44
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ยท $50
  • Ori Ido Ohana ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ ยท $20

    โ€œGet well soon. I'm in Jerusalem, thinking of you. - Jerusalemโ€

  • Imam Hadi Lie ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $25
  • Haider Zubair Awan ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ ยท $25
  • Itzel T. Lรณpez ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ยท $50

Reviews

3.0(4 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Arthur Lucas Dubois๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ทVerified donor
    Made me feel heard

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Usman Bilal Niazi๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐVerified donor
    Changed my perspective

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Aditya Bambang Siahaan๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉVerified donor
    Genuine person with a big heart

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Yusuf Deniz Korkmaz๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ทVerified helper
    Made a real difference

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

Questions & comments

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  • Junaid Waqas Tarar

    Sending love. Hope the doctors have good news. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. Love from Charlotte.

    • Carmen W. VelascoAddress verified

      Take care, Irene. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier

      • Brian C. JordanAddress verified

        hope the doctors have good news. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust.

        • Hawa Bah

          wishing you the best. Hope you get there. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Love from Warren

          • Maryam Bushra Naqvi

            Good luck, Irene. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. I'll check back for the next update.

            • Gaurav W. Mishra

              take care. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it

              • Arjun E. Sood

                thanks for sharing this, Irene. This could happen to any of us. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. Thinking of Dar es Salaam.

                • Natalie B. Anderson

                  Hang in there, Irene. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. My cousin had a similar thing happen so this one hit home.

                  $1,361 raised of $1,150

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