Let's help Paulin beat cancer
Paulin is a 28-year-old boy living in one of the Pope John XXIII Community's shelters in Cameroon. He underwent surgery for a malignant tumor in his back and now faces a long and expensive course of chemotherapy, radiation, and drugs to prevent the tumor from metastasizing. The amount to be raised to save him is at least €7,000. Your help is essential to give him back the hope and future he so laboriously tries to build every day.
Paulin is a 28-year-old man who lives in a shelter run by the Pope John XXIII Community in Bafoussam, Cameroon. He was taken in when he was a 10-year-old boy—alone and frightened. He was born into a very vulnerable family: he is one of many children of a fragile woman who had been abandoned by her husband. She did her best to raise her children, but faced insurmountable difficulties that led her to seek the Community’s support.
Despite such a painful start, Paulin has made an extraordinary journey in life. He is currently finishing his studies: his biggest dream is to become an educator; in the meantime, he has become a pillar of support at the Bafoussam home: in fact, every day, he helps care for the 25 children and teenagers living there who come from prison and the streets. In Cameroon, even the youngest children end up in prison, sometimes simply for stealing something to eat out of hunger.
In early March, unfortunately, Paulin discovered he had a large abscess on his back. Initial tests suggested one of our greatest fears: that it might be a tumor. Thanks to the generosity of some donors and volunteers from our mission in Cameroon, it was possible to have him undergo emergency surgery. The histological examination unfortunately confirmed the diagnosis we had hoped would never come: it was a malignant tumor, a grade II myxoid fibrosarcoma, which affects soft tissues.
The good news— a glimmer of hope to hold onto—is that current scans show no signs of metastasis. Paulin can pull through, but he absolutely needs your help.
To save Paulin’s life, he must undergo a complex and costly medical treatment in a country where the right to health and medical care comes at a high price. Here are the steps that can be taken once the necessary funds have been raised:
- Radiation therapy: As soon as the surgical wound has healed, Paulin will need to begin radiation therapy. There are only two machines in all of Cameroon capable of providing this treatment. Paulin will have to move to the city for an entire month to undergo daily sessions;
- Monitoring (CT scan): After radiation therapy, a new CT scan will be needed to ensure that the tumor has not spread;
- Targeted drug therapy: Based on the results of a specific test, Paulin will need to take targeted cancer drugs for 3–6 months to stop the growth of cancer cells. If the test results are favorable, there is a possibility of obtaining this medication for free. Otherwise, he will have to use an alternative medication and pay for it out of pocket.
Taking into account all medical expenses, travel costs, and living expenses related to his treatment, the total amount needed to treat Paulin is at least €7,000.
This is a significant amount, yet it is also a small price to pay when you consider that it can give hope to a young man who has already suffered so much and now simply wants to fulfill his potential and dedicate himself to others—including through his future career as an educator. Help us ensure he isn’t left alone at this critical moment. Every small contribution can help restore the future he is working so hard to build every day.
10,157 €
100%
7,000 €
62 Donations
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Paulin is a 28-year-old man who lives in a shelter run by the Pope John XXIII Community in Bafoussam, Cameroon. He was taken in when he was a 10-year-old boy—alone and frightened. He was born into a very vulnerable family: he is one of many children of a fragile woman who had been abandoned by her husband. She did her best to raise her children, but faced insurmountable difficulties that led her to seek the Community’s support.
Despite such a painful start, Paulin has made an extraordinary journey in life. He is currently finishing his studies: his biggest dream is to become an educator; in the meantime, he has become a pillar of support at the Bafoussam home: in fact, every day, he helps care for the 25 children and teenagers living there who come from prison and the streets. In Cameroon, even the youngest children end up in prison, sometimes simply for stealing something to eat out of hunger.
In early March, unfortunately, Paulin discovered he had a large abscess on his back. Initial tests suggested one of our greatest fears: that it might be a tumor. Thanks to the generosity of some donors and volunteers from our mission in Cameroon, it was possible to have him undergo emergency surgery. The histological examination unfortunately confirmed the diagnosis we had hoped would never come: it was a malignant tumor, a grade II myxoid fibrosarcoma, which affects soft tissues.
The good news— a glimmer of hope to hold onto—is that current scans show no signs of metastasis. Paulin can pull through, but he absolutely needs your help.
To save Paulin’s life, he must undergo a complex and costly medical treatment in a country where the right to health and medical care comes at a high price. Here are the steps that can be taken once the necessary funds have been raised:
- Radiation therapy: As soon as the surgical wound has healed, Paulin will need to begin radiation therapy. There are only two machines in all of Cameroon capable of providing this treatment. Paulin will have to move to the city for an entire month to undergo daily sessions;
- Monitoring (CT scan): After radiation therapy, a new CT scan will be needed to ensure that the tumor has not spread;
- Targeted drug therapy: Based on the results of a specific test, Paulin will need to take targeted cancer drugs for 3–6 months to stop the growth of cancer cells. If the test results are favorable, there is a possibility of obtaining this medication for free. Otherwise, he will have to use an alternative medication and pay for it out of pocket.
Taking into account all medical expenses, travel costs, and living expenses related to his treatment, the total amount needed to treat Paulin is at least €7,000.
This is a significant amount, yet it is also a small price to pay when you consider that it can give hope to a young man who has already suffered so much and now simply wants to fulfill his potential and dedicate himself to others—including through his future career as an educator. Help us ensure he isn’t left alone at this critical moment. Every small contribution can help restore the future he is working so hard to build every day.
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