Dangriga resident needs life saving medical treatment

A young man in Dangriga Town has been suffering from a huge tumor for almost four years and he desperately needs help to seek medical attention abroad. Diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, Joselyn Paulino has been unable to walk in recent months. The family has exhausted a number of avenues and unable to financially cover the cost of treatment for the tumor.  They are now hoping for a miracle. Joselyn’s cousin, Bernice Flowers called News Five because she was inspired by Catarina Ishim’s story. The day after News Five aired Catarina’s story, there was an outpouring of support and the Mission of Heart of Christ offered to assist her; they have since removed Ishim’s tumor in Knoxville, Tennessee where Catarina is presently seeking further medical treatment. News Five went to Dangriga today to visit with Joselyn Paulino who hopes for a miracle.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

At a quick glance, Joselyn Paulino appears like a normal twenty-year old; but that is far from reality for this young boy. Since December of 2011, he has been confined to this bed. His mobilization has been limited by this growth in the upper inner thigh of the left leg. The growth weighs more than twenty pounds; it hasn’t only created complications but also restricts Joselyn’s every move.  Every day is a routine; he is confined to his bed for almost four months now:

Joselyn Paulino, Has Bone Cancer

“It’s like ordinary, you get up, you tek yuh medication and from deh I drink mi tea or I read fi keep mi mind occupied.”

Andrea Polanco

“But all these things you do in your bed?”

Joselyn Paulino

Joselyn Paulino

“Yes, yes, yes ma’am.”

Andrea Polanco

“Because you are unable to walk?”

Joselyn Paulino

“Yes, ma’am.”

But Joselyn wasn’t always like this; he was enrolled in the Automotive Programme at the ITVET in Stann Creek in September of 2007. But in February of 2008 he fell ill:

Delcia Smith

Delcia Smith, Mother of Joselyn Paulino

“In February of 2008, Joselyn started to complain about pain in the leg and I give him what I had, Tylenol for pain and after that it was pain, pain, pain and we took him to the hospital and they gave him medication for pain and in August, Dr. Larrinaga said, ‘Miss Delcia, this thing is severe, it is more than we are thinking about.’”

And indeed it was. After successive turn around at hospital, a biopsy was performed. In December of 2009 the pathology report diagnosed Joselyn with a malignant bone tumor. It has been sucking the life out of him and left him almost dependent on painkillers. Dr. Rao Kurella, a family physician has been attending to Joselyn for the past year:

Rao Kurella

Dr. Rao Kurella, Physician

“He has a bone cancer; the name of the bone cancer is osteogenic sarcoma. Osteogenic Sarcoma is one of the most malignant tumors of the bone. Bone tumors of cancers are very rare, point two percent to five percent of the total bone cancers is only two percent. But Osteogenic Sarcoma, the one that Joselyn has is forty-five percent incidence of all bone cancers. It is very aggressive and grows very fast. We need to make him as comfortable as he can and then relieve his pain and give him whatever he wants, food and everything. He is pale and then it is sucking all his blood; he is becoming too pale and in course of time, he might need a transfusion and like that we will keep him surviving as much as God gives him the blessings.”

But Joselyn handles all of that with a smile; he says his faith helps him to remain hopeful:

Joselyn Paulino

“I would hope that somebody would see what I’m going through. They have some people when they are sick; they’re angry but not me, I pray. I feel like God di hold me; like he has ih hands round me.”

Andrea Polanco

“How do you keep yourself positive; knowing that you have this growth; this tumor? How do you keep positive?”

Joselyn Paulino

“I keep myself positive like when I feel lonely, I just pray to God and just like he open mi spirit.”

Andrea Polanco

“What is your goal in life? What is your dream?”

Joselyn Paulino

“My goal in life is to go to the sea; experience the world and move about like going to other places and experience what they are experiencing.”

Andrea Polanco

“You just want to live a normal life like everybody else?”

Joselyn Paulino

“Yes, live life like everybody else.”

Bernice Peters Flowers

His family’s faith is just as strong. After four years they have endured an emotional journey with Joselyn in his fight for life. They hope a good Samaritan will reach out:

Bernice Peters Flowers, Cousin of Joselyn Paulino

“With the breath of life, it is never too late it is always good to try. Nothing beat a trial but a failure and instead of lying here twenty-four seven, we are hoping; his mom, the family; his brothers; everybody is hoping that help can come from a good Samaritan or a good organization or a good medical team, that do  work with Belizeans patients in this condition; We are hoping that one day he will be able to testify on this and be of help to another person that might fall into his situation and he will give them hope and say, don’t give up because I’ve been through it.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.

If you’d like to assist the family, you can make a contribution to Belize Bank Account number 253086 or call Delcia Smith at 662-4586 or 522-2445.