Woman of the year bringing hope to thousands
Few events in a parent’s life are more devastating than facing the news that a child has been diagnosed with a life threatening illness, and the very word leukemia is enough to bring terror into the hearts and minds of most.
To meet the challenge of overseeing long spells of often painful treatment, with progress frequently negated by periods of remission is a challenge that can make or break the spirit of a devoted parent, particularly the mother who brought the child into the world.
While improved treatment techniques have reduced the death rate, the 5-year survival rate is still threateningly low. White patients have a slightly better chance than black, but the average 5 year survival rate in the US according to to the American Cancer Society is only 46 percent.
It was statistics like this that faced Leslie Ducruet in Panama, when her eldest daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia, but she survived and grew into young womanhood, while many around her died.
For Leslie it was a life changing experience, especially when she observed the plight of many parents from the interior of Panama, with insufficient funds to stay near their children undergoing treatment in the Hospital del Ninos (Sick Children’s Hospital). She set up a Foundation to provide support for parents and their children receiving treatment, which has over the last 15 years grown to a hostel providing 24 twin bedded rooms, to house one parent and child, with games facilities, its own cafeteria, a non denominational chapel, and a conference room for use by supporting donors. There is an area set aside for young patients recovering from transplants.
To visit the facility on Ave Mexico and Calle 33 in Caledonia ( it’s just up the road from Café Balboa) is both heart warming as one sees the joy many volunteers bring into their young wards lives, combined with sadness as you reflect on the statistics. It has also expanded with a Chapter now in place in Chiriqui.
This year, The Fundacion Amigos del Ninos con Leukemia y Cancer (FANLYC) celebrated its 15 years of bringing assistance to thousands, by producing a book composed of hundreds of letters from survivors who were helped by the foundation. The book can be obtained at the hostel for $15 along with tee shirts, bracelets and other items that can serve as gifts, while the donation helps support the foundation’s work.
This year Leslie was recognized by Panama’s business executive’s association (APEDE) as “Woman of the Year”. In accepting the award she thanked the women in her life including family, mothers of the children, and the hundreds of volunteers from schools and the community, who hekp keep the foundation going but she also made a call to fill a gap. More male involvement is need, to help in the two centers, giving the young patients an additional feeling of stability and security that the presence of men can provide. {jathumbnail off}
