Tumor Patient Efrain Alvarado Needs Your Assistance for Treatment

The family of eleven year old Efrain Alvarado needs your help. He was first hospitalized back in October for chest pains and was later diagnosed with a minor tumor, for which he underwent a surgery. Two months later, Efrain took a second surgery. The student of Chan Pine Ridge in Orange Walk was sent home, but in late December, he complained of severe headaches. In early January, he was readmitted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for a cerebral tumor. It’s been over a month since and a third round of surgery, but now his condition has deteriorated, so much so that he cannot breathe on his own and is being kept alive by a ventilator. According to his family, the doctors at the hospital say they can’t do anything else for him, but they are clinging on to hope that Efrain can survive by getting further medical attention outside of Belize.  Today, his aunt, Yolanda Williams, brought their appeal to the media.

Yolanda Williams, Aunt of Cancer Patient

“Because of being here so long, he got pneumonia and it got really bad and he went into coma. He was in coma for like three to four days. Now he is in the hospital still admitted and he is on the machines which he cannot breathe for himself. He has really worsened and we don’t know what to do.”

Duane Moody

“It’s a total of three surgeries that he has had and the doctors are saying that they can’t do anything else for him?”

Yolanda Williams

Yolanda Williams

“Well the doctor talked to us as family and they said that we have to give up on him because there is nothing that they can do here. He needs to go on another surgery and put him on chemotherapy that is not available here in Belize. we would need to take him abroad—either to Merida or we were trying to see fi he could be accepted at St. Jude’s. But you know, money is not there.  Before he went through his last surgery that’s what the doctors said; that it would be good if we can take him out where they can give him that treatment, they don’t guarantee is going to be effective.”

Duane Moody

“What are they saying now? Nothing can be done?”

Yolanda Williams

“Last week I think the doctor talked to the mother of the child and he said that there is nothing to do, but we still have hope you know.  We are looking for help. We’ve been trying to raise funds on our own, trying to do little things. But we are asking the public for help. It is really hard for us not being able to have that finance to take him out. But I know there are people out there that are kindhearted and that’s what we are asking people. We are not asking for a lot, even if it is a dollar, it will help.”

The estimated cost to take Efrain to Merida for medical attention is approximately thirty thousand dollars. Anyone willing to assist is asked to contact the family at 602-0783.