Dialysis patient’s creative fundraiser to pay medical bills
jose cruz
There have been several fundraisers to assist the well known Jose Cruz, a dialysis patient and activist for others diagnosed with kidney problems. But chronic renal failure is a lifelong battle that only gets more expensive as it advances. That is why Cruz has come up with a way to raise funds for his medical bills and at the same time give back to the community. He’s going to do that by holding an inner tube race and river clean up, which also focuses on spreading awareness about an endangered species, which is the Hicattee or Dermatemys Mawii. It sounds like a lot of objectives being packed into the two day event so we asked Cruz to explain what they have planned.
Jose Cruz, Dialysis Patient
“It’s going to be an annual thing and this animal will change every year on the event. The other part of it is a tube race that we’re going to be doing from Black Rock coming down and picking up garbage all the way coming down. That’s another part of it; it’s an environmental thing. The fourth part is to raise funds for myself. Some of the organizers have decided they want to get out there and do something for me and at this time it’s really tough for anybody to give you a five bucks or a ten bucks. The responses has not been very good so far, but like all things when you start off it takes a while to build. I would like the public to know and all the different high schools in the Cayo area that they are welcomed to come and participate. I know it will be on a Friday and Saturday and maybe they can’t participate on the Friday, but on Saturday they can come and participate in the race and the last leg of the tube race. We’re going to be having some water sports down by the Hawksworth Bridge after the event is over. I would like to ask anybody that is willing to partake and assist they could call myself at 627-6057 or Mr. Evaristo Avella at 661-9575.”
Delahnie Bain
“This is an activity on the river; how can ensure that these people out there will be safe?”
Jose Cruz
“We have other environmental people out there who are joining in and they will be out there servicing these people. And, Delahnie, it’s really tough and hard to drop off a tube if you know what I mean. If you drop off a tube you can always hold on, on it until you reach safety.”
Persons competing in the inner tube race are required to pay a registration fee of ten dollars. Students with valid ID’s can enter for five dollars. So far the Hicattee Race has garnered the support of the Minister of Sports, DuPlooys and BECOL.
It is truly a sad scene to see how debilitating patients with lethal but treatable diseases have to come up to media everyday to ask for help. In other countries around the world, fundamental chornic diseases are generally covered to a bigger extent, because no one is loaded enough to combat such illness. Often I would encounter some of these patients, and those who had passed away, with little or nothing I can do, because of our lack of resource.
More than one association, country, and charity are willing to donate dialysis machine to Belize. Our capacity quote is between 50-100 patients, and if you multiply that by 2-3 times (e.g., 50 patients x 3 times x 600 dollars= 90,000BZD/month x 12 months=1.08 million dollars). Yes, that’s the amount of money that is needed to keep at least 50 dialysis patients alive, and the money that certain institution is asking. Imagine if those promised machines are here already, at least these 50 poor patients can save over 1 million, and that for the government.
We are third-world poor, but if we can afford first-world TV, entertainment, and politician salaries, why can we provide at least second-world care? What happen to oil fund?
Budgeting wise, two ways to allow any gov to make money is either to cut spending (like Greece and Euro nations), or heavy tax. I don’t see where our gov is cutting except for the area that is needed the most (police dept maybe?). All the Toyota Hilux running, but poor, near-blinded Mr. Cruz has to beg chump changes from public to live. Where and when will gov intervene? (BTW, where are the promised dialysis units?)
MR Barrow worrying about oil and can’t even provide basic medical treatment for the Belizean Citizens.Shame on you PM.
……………….. stop blame the PM for every damm ….. thing weh happen in people lives.
some people are to blame for their bad health, you no realize all the drinking of rum and COKE in your younger live can affect you later in life,and to you …….. doctor, you should be the last to talk cause just like dem damm lawyers everything is about money for you guys too, most doctor and hospital always want advance payment.
……………………….!!!! when you point your index finger at someone three other little finger is ointing at you, OK
Yeah, Elgin. Stupid comment.
Good comments from the doctor and macal. To you doctor, you can provide free consultation, the medical equipment is left to the government to provide it to the public hospitals. Macal, if you are exercising/eating well continue to do so, most off these people know what is GOOD/BAD for them and continue to do so, so these are the CONSEQUENCES.
Doctor, I think you have brought up valuable points. I agree that the revenue from the oil industry can be used to fund our NHI and medical services to the poor. Also, the facts and calculations you provide are very useful. I wonder if policy makers do visit this website because there is a lot of valuable information posted here everytime. Indeed, our government seems to only consider taxation to meet their budget deficits. Hiluxes are even ok. How about the new Toyota Prado’s that cost some 200 hundred thousand? Luxury at the expense of poor hard working people. I believe before any tax increase, there must be cost-cutting initiatives. Government vehicles still hop around from bar to bar on the weekends. We paying for the fuel. Its ridiculous.
Macal, you cant group all the doctors and lawyers and put them in one basket. Its wrong to generalize. I perceive good intentions from Doctor and he provides us with valuable information which we should capitalize on. By you pointing fingers on him, you point three other little fingers are pointing at you. You seem to have religious knowledge, wouldnt you agree that even though we sometimes do wrong things such as drinking and smoking among others which in the end we end up with diseases, we cant turn our backs on these people. Remember that your body organs can fail even if you dont abuse them. Instead of blaming people like Mr. Cruz for their suffering, do like many of us have done, call My Refuge Christian Radio (802 0097) and support their initiative in helping Mr. Cruz by making a donation. He is very instrumental in raising awareness and helping others that are in the same medical condition as he is. I applaud Mr. Luis Wade, Mr. Femo, the pastor involved, Kiko of Vision Builders and his workmen for the house they are building Mr. Cruz in an effort to ease his pain.
I leave you all with that thought. Have you helped someone today?
Come on guys lets get together and become environmentally friendly and what the heck lets help JOSE! Count me in
Look, I agree with the Doc but in the same token I cannot ignore the other comments posted. Fellow BZNS, we must realize that we are a well underdeveloped developing nation and these problems will always be. It is true that funds should be readily available for people like Mr. Cruz, it is a slap in the face to anyone who gets turned down by various medical departments because they are unable to cover cost. Unfortunately, our leaders dont listen when it really matters, only when they really need us during the elections. All my blessings to all my fellow brothers and sisters suffering fron health problems
That’s why I applaud Channel 5 for always including Health tips and advice in the daily evening news…that’s what we need more of…we need to be educated so that we can know how our actions affect our body..
This is a good time me to bring up this suggestion for a Channel 5 Reality Show…we can do something like America’s Biggest Loser right here in Belize to encourage healthy living and healthy lifestyles…
This will not only be very good ratings for Channel 5, cause a lot of people love to watch Biggest Loser…bu it will also help us as a people to get motivated about making a change in the way we treat bodies…
Just a thought…
The doctors have to eat too, and pay bills. Medicine all over the world is expensive. Even if he gives this man free consultation right now it is too late. He will probably need to go across the borders to get some help for his situation, it is a fact those hospitals in Belize are killing people, not helping.
Forget about the rum and coke, Belizeans eat unhealthy in general, too much cool aid, chiney fry chicken, start boycotting those nasty chiney man franchises out of your neighborhoods and help your families live longer healthier lives.
But, before you start the boycotting thing, I am strongly urging the Belizean living in Belize to go out and support this man by taking part in the race; it’s just $10 per person. No need to blame the GOB for this one, the people can help other people as well.
its sad to see anyone suffering, but the truth be told the government don’t care about no one but themselves. if it was one of their family member in this predicament, i bet they would be at the dr office this minute. sorry to say if you don’t have money, u will suffer. that’s why i work so hard to provide for myself and my mother. i wouldn’t be able to see her in the condition Mr. Cruz is in. it hurts ur heart.
Student:Yes,my comment is stupid hence the reason Barrow is taking you all as fools.
Sasha: Maybe Barrow should send some students from Belize overseas to specialize in Dialysis.Who are you to tell this doctor to provide free service.Do you even know how much this doctor payed to be educated?
Macal rivera:You stated in your statement that the Lawyers and Doctors are all about money.Where do you put PM Barrow?He is no different that’s the reason why he is exploiting the Belizean Citizens.He is all about himself.He don’t listen to the Citizens of Belize.This man have the whole Country of Belize on AUTO Pilot.I thought Belize was a Democratic Country.HOwever this man is acting like a dictator.
Look yea proud belizean how is the …. world you wen di talk all this non sense, why cure when you can prevent, good …t, if we use the oil revenues for every …. kidney what will be left for prevention, on other more important projest, especially does project involving children!!!!!
I am not saying turn your back to these people, all I am saying is stop blame the government for every …. thing that happens in people lives. Sometimes we cause all this problems on oursleves cause of our lifestyles, u check we I mean bro!!! I neva elect the government to be there for my kidney, liver stomach, brain, ect ect, common mein! as for the doctor, all of you know the d… truth without money doctors turn their back too, so no talk bs.
macal rivera,
I was not talking BS as you say. Just trying to get you on the right track. We have to stop be narrow minded. Of course prevention better than cure. But we must deal with the situation at hand. We have to make things better for those ailing.
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.