In loving memory of Emi

Hello! I’m Gustavo, Emiliano’s uncle. Emi is a beautiful, intelligent, and happy child. He is also a karate champion! He plays chess, loves animals, and is a helpful friend. Two years ago, one week before Emiliano's 8th birthday, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). As devastating as the news was, we did our best to regain our composure and learn as much as we could about the disease and how to fight it. We followed instructions from the best doctors in our country, Peru, and provided him with the best care we could afford. The doctors recommended a bone marrow transplant and Emiliano got one from his dad in February 2020. Things seemed to be going well, but in October 2020, it became apparent that he was rejecting the transplant. We almost lost him in December, as the disease made a rampant comeback; but Emi resisted and got better.

Emiliano has been a true fighter and has exceeded the doctors' expectations through his worst crisis, but after the rejection, Emi’s options have dwindled.

In January 2021, Emi started an immunotherapy treatment, which helped him enough to tolerate a new round of chemo; but, now chemotherapy treatments have stopped working too. Emi’s body is no longer producing platelets nor lymphocytes. That means he has absolutely no defenses and Emi is susceptible to infections, so he has no way of healing any wound, as tiny as it might be. Neutropenia is a constant state for Emi these days. Blood and platelet transfusions on a daily basis. Despite these challenges, Emi continues to have a positive attitude and fights with bravery.

Medical care expenses have increased dramatically. At first, the public health insurance covered most of the medical expenses while Emi was hospitalized. But, with the onset of COVID in 2020 and Emi’s deteriorating health, Emi’s dad (my brother) has had to stop working and has fully dedicated himself to Emi for the last 16 months. Unfortunately, the immunotherapy treatment was not covered by the public health insurance either.

Emi’s only hope is a relatively new drug in Peru, Blincyto, which is the commercial name for Blinatumomab.

We have two challenges: First, Emi has to be in remission. And two, Blincyto, not unlike other cancer treatments, it does NOT guarantee recovery, but it has a good probability of success against the type of leukemia Emiliano is fighting.

We are facing the hardest hurdle yet, as this drug is extremely expensive and the health insurance in Peru does not cover the treatment.

We need your help:

1) for regular daily expenses, as my brother is dedicating 100% of his time to Emi, and

2) for funds to cover the Blincyto expenses immediately after Emi is in remission.

We appreciate your support; every little bit you can contribute counts! We thank you for all your love and prayers. We are so grateful to have people like you in our lives willing to help Emi fight leukemia.

Gustavo Rojas Mendieta

PS: If you're in Perú and would like to make a donation, you can directly deposit to my brother (Gabriel Rojas Mendieta, DNI 10274780) here:

BCP Soles: 191-96538886-0-23
CCI BCP Soles: 002-19119653888602354

BCP Dollars: 194-36953121-1-83
CCI BCP Dollars: 002-19413695312118395

YAPE: 923430544

We'll add it to the fund!