Makhauhelo’s life has been full of ups and downs since being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). She remembers the fear of not having access to the medication she needed, but also the kindness of healthcare providers who never stopped searching for a solution. In 2017, Makhauhelo began experiencing weakness and fatigue. Her daughter, who….
Dipak from Nepal has always been passionate about music. Ever since he was young, he dreamed of creating songs, performing, and making people happy through his art. “It’s not just a hobby, it is who I am,” he said. Then, he was diagnosed with two rare and debilitating blood disorders – aplastic anemia, where bone….
Getting a diagnosis and treatment for rare diseases is challenging, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Punam from Nepal endured months of symptoms before she found out she had paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare and debilitating disease that causes red blood cells to break apart. “I stayed in the hospital for 45 days before….
By Dr. Mipsang Lama Partner Physician at Patan Hospital in Nepal When Treatment Feels Like a Miracle Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare and devastating blood disorder. In many high-income countries, it is a condition with established treatment pathways. But in Nepal, for years, it was something we could diagnose, yet not truly treat…..
Learn more about the new chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) program in Lesotho! In 2025, we partnered with local healthcare professionals to provide access to diagnostics, medication, and support services. The first patient began receiving treatment in December. Africa Region Head Cathy Scheepers will introduce you to Dr. Kabelo Mputsoe, the first oncologist in the country…..
Finding effective treatment is difficult for people living with cancer in low- and middle-income countries. It can take years to start feeling better. Christian, called Tian by his loved ones, works as a medical technologist at a private hospital in the Philippines. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in 2012, when he was….
Get a never before seen look at the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) program in Tanzania! Over 20 years ago, we partnered with local healthcare professionals to provide treatment access for people living with cancer – at no cost to them, for as long as they need it. Africa Region Head Cathy Scheepers takes you to….
By Cathy Scheepers Africa Region Head for The Max Foundation A group of women sits around a lunch table, smiling and engaged. A burst of laughter catches my attention, and for a moment, I can imagine the scene unfolding on the patio of a restaurant not in a hospital cafeteria. Today is the first time….
Being diagnosed with breast cancer was a shock for Yeshi, a farmer from a small village in Bhutan. Her mother passed away from breast cancer, which was already advanced when it was discovered. “I was terrified, remembering the pain my mother had endured,” she said. “However, I also felt a sense of relief knowing I….
October 19th marks the anniversary of Max’s birthday. It is a day of mixed emotions; a beautiful life cut short, so many birthdays missed, and a longing for what wasn’t. Yet today I take a step back and realize that Max’s name has become a symbol of hope, and his birthday marks a day of….
Living with cancer can be overwhelming, to say the least. People with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have to take daily medication, travel to clinics, and carefully monitor their symptoms, on top of working and caring for their families. This has been Kiran’s reality for around 15 years – he was diagnosed with CML when….
The journey from experiencing the first symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to finding an effective treatment can be long, difficult, and painful, especially in low- and middle-income countries. That was the case for Chamu from Harare, Zimbabwe. It took him more than a year to get a diagnosis, but he kept fighting and is….
