Benefit Yard Sale for Maarten

This is a plea for help from a 1 year old cancer patient.

I, Maarten, was diagnosed with brain tumor when I was just three months old. The plan was to surgically remove the tumor and to keep me on chemotherapy in Seattle until I was old enough for the preferred radiation therapy. Unfortunately, a specialized MRI in Boston prior to the much awaited radiation therapy has revealed that the tumor had returned. I returned to Seattle for a second surgery that had to be canceled as it was too risky. I am now back in Boston for radiation therapy. I have known no life other than one in ICUs, chemotherapy, and frequent flights between hospitals in Seattle and Boston.

While much of my medical expenses are covered by my dad’s health insurance, my parents have had to bear all other expenses (such as extra house rent in Boston, and frequent flights Seattle-Boston). They are doing everything they can to care for me and cover these expenses. Our sole source of income is a modest postdoctoral stipend earned by my dad, Francois, a scientist. My mom, Sacha, a spectacular scientist herself, had to quit her job to take care of me. With all our relatives in the Netherlands and France, we are struggling emotionally and financially through this difficult time. My mom’s ex-colleagues and my dad’s co-workers, have come together to make a difference in any which way they can. They are organizing a yard sale and a bake sale:

When Friday, September 18, 2009 9am-6pm and Saturday, Sept. 19, 8am-5pm
Where Peace Lutheran Church in West Seattle, 8316 39th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136-2351.

Please support them. We need your help.

Note: All proceeds from this event will go directly to Maarten’s family. If you would like to give a cash donation, you can do so through account #41886441 at Bank of America, either in person or online.

We have established this blog so you can read frequent updates on Maarten’s progress.