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 celebration of life in all corners of the world. I find myself with a heart full of gratitude for every person who has chosen to carry Max in their hearts and who dedicate their life to give to others.
One such people is Serali, a 54-year-old man from Nepal whose sacrifice for his family and his grace in the face of adversity is humbling. Today on this day of gratitude, I share his testimonial as a gift to you. Let his words remind us of our common humanity, and of the right of all people to access treatment regardless of where we live.
“At the tender age of twenty, I got married and was blessed to have four wonderful children who brought immense love and meaning to my life. Aiming at the desire to provide for my growing family, I sought opportunity in Qatar, where I labored tirelessly as a worker. For nearly two decades, I was sending monthly financial support and used to visit home every alternate year to reunite with my loved ones.
In August 2014, destiny took an unexpected turn during my time in Qatar, when the diagnosis was confirmed as Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). With a heavy heart, I learned about the challenging road ahead, both medically and financially. The physician’s words resonated within me, and the costs involved in my treatment.
Unfortunately, I could not get any further support from [my employer] which made me leave my job and I had to return to Nepal. I did not reveal the reason for my return to my family and I went to [the] Hospital and met [the doctor] who introduced me to The Max Foundation – a beacon of hope that transcended geographical barriers, ensuring access to vital medication, and enrolled me in the program. I felt very blessed as geography was not a barrier for me and did not stop me from getting medication.
With the doctor’s and his team’s expertise, along with my dedication to following the program guidelines, my overall health has been effectively restored. I adhere diligently to my prescribed regimen, ensuring that I never miss a dose and attend all my scheduled follow-up appointments. Through this commitment, I have hope and resilience in my ongoing battle with my illness.
I am deeply grateful to The Max Foundation and to [the company] for their immense generosity in providing me with access to [this medicine].
The access to drugs has not only helped me financially but also enhanced my overall well-being. This has enabled me to sustain my occupation as a farmer, which demands immense endurance and physical strength. Consequently, I can perform agricultural duties such as cultivating rice, lentils, and corn, thereby fulfilling my family’s financial obligations. I try to provide the same foundation of values and unwavering support for my grandchildren that I was fortunate enough to receive from my grandfather. As a patient facing financial constraints, the provision of such vital medication is invaluable, and I cannot express enough gratitude to The Max Foundation, [the company] and my treating physicians for facilitating access to this treatment.”
This Max family around the world, all those touched by Max, it is a beautiful and powerful testament of the best of humanity – people helping people. Together with thousands of health care providers, patient group leaders, countless individuals working in industry, from senior leaders to those in management roles and beyond, government officials, medical experts, and community members at large, we have brought dignity and hope to more than 100,000 families like Serali’s in as many as 83 countries for 27 years.
Grief is a powerful emotion; it is always there eating us up. My advice: turn it outward, do something. Do something good. Let it drive you to help others and you will discover that the lines are blurred, who is helping who? All of us together, we are one and as much as we give of ourselves, we receive much more in return.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez is the CEO of The Max Foundation. Under Pat’s direction The Max Foundation is dedicated to accelerating health equity by delivering medication, technology, and services to patients facing cancer and other critical illnesses, focusing our energy on those who no one else is helping. Pat lives in Edmonds, Washington, where she raised her four sons.
For many people facing cancer, the “last mile” in treatment access is a long, expensive, and recurring journey. But in Constantine’s case, even this journey may not be enough. The distance itself is not so far but the journey is long – 8 hours by public buses and transport. Constantine, like so many others around the world, has a rare form of leukemia called CML (chronic myeloid leukemia).
All of us at The Max Foundation are wholly committed to maximizing every opportunity to collaborate and build new partnerships on behalf of the patients we serve in low resource settings. We are excited to move onward to a new chapter with innovative opportunities to expand our impact. We hope you will see a place for yourself to join us in this effort to close the cancer divide!
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….
