Twelve-year-old John Andrew Jacinto, born in Riyadh, was diagnosed with leukemia in March last year. Since then, he has been receiving chemotherapy.
His doctor said he needs a bone marrow transplant that will cost SR900,000, but the family cannot afford it, even with medical insurance.
“Our hearts bleed for our son,” said his mother Elenita, a Filipino nurse at the Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Riyadh.
“We cannot pay for the treatment, as it’s too much for us being ordinary employees trying to make ends meet for our family. It is heartbreaking to see our son patiently waiting, praying and wishing that God sends him good Samaritans to come to his rescue.”
Over half a million riyals has been spent on John’s treatment and last month his insurance cover ended.
Elenita, who has four other children, said a charity group shouldered the cost of her son's treatment from March to May.
“Our worry now is what happens when that is over? We have to raise money to keep his chemotherapy going uninterrupted to prevent him from relapsing,” she said. “If he relapses, the chances of remission will be minimal according to his doctors. We are stretched to the limit and I am pleading to those compassionate and generous people to help our son beat this disease.”
She added that John has been absent from school due to his illness.
The prognosis for John is good, with a more than 80 percent chance of survival as he is young. His younger sister is a full match donor.
The parents plan to do the transplant at the King Fahd National Guard Hospital where he is currently being treated.
John's doctors said they felt sad when they could not do the transplant immediately when he was in remission during his first month of treatment, but they are hoping he gets the money to fund the operation.
