At age 26 had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, relapsed 4 times, gone into ICU thrice, trying to stay alive.
Fundraising campaign by
Edwin Chen
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SG$26,122raised of SG$150,000.00 goal goal
The campaign owner has stopped the page from accepting further donations. Please contact them if you'd still like to donate
Campaign Story
Edwin has been fighting his disease (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) for the last three years of his life since 2016. He had barely entered into the workforce after the completion of his National Service. Although doctors were initially confident of his disease in remission after five rounds of strong chemo, Edwin relapsed 9 months later. Edwin quickly fell into depression but was still compliant to treatment. He underwent chemotherapy for five months and was told that he would require a transplant right after. Unfortunately there were no match from his family members nor from donors internationally. Edwin quickly fell into another deep depression because he couldn’t understand how his medical journey would continue from there. In 2018, Edwin found himself stuck in limbo, unable to move forward and it was only when he learnt that one of his best friends passed that he found motivation to move forward with the clinical trial called Gemtuzumab. Although doctors had high hopes that gemtuzumab would help Edwin’s condition, he had a second relapse. He then began his palliative treatment of Azacitidine alone as outpatient. This required him to go for daily jabs for 7 consecutive days every 28 days. He only finally told his family after the second cycle of Azacitidine. During his third cycle, he suddenly developed a fever and was warded for further testing. Edwin readily agreed to be warded as he had planned an overseas trip with his second sister, Marilyn, in two weeks’ time. What was initially thought to be just a few days of observation turned into a 53 days stay. Edwin spent his 28th birthday in the ICU, intubated, due to a respiratory failure. After spending a total of 2 weeks in the ICU, Edwin developed ICU psychosis and lost 20kg, together with his ability to talk and his mobility. Through physiotherapy and speech therapy, he relearned how to eat and how to walk. He was then able to be discharged. However, four months later, Edwin was warded again due to a persistent headache which caused him sleepless nights. Despite the trauma of long hospitalisation stay, Edwin faced his fears and checked himself in to A&E on 2 March 2019. During this hospitalisation, Edwin had a full blown (3rd) relapse due to the delay in administering Aza as he was still having fever and headache. Eventually, after many blood tests, scans, and biopsy, Edwin’s initial condition of preauricular sinus infection quickly become what they called Sweet syndrome. During this period, Edwin’s BP had dropped to 75/50 and an MRI scan of his brain also suggested a bleed in his pituitary gland which controls hormones. Treatment is still ongoing for his various conditions.
Organizer
- Edwin Chen
- SG
Trying to stay alive
Trying to stay alive
Thank you for your kindness
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 02:59 pmDear all,Thank you for your kind donation and your love and support during this period of difficult time for the family.We have closed this fundraising. We miss Edwin dearly. Please continue to share Edwin's story if he has inspired or touched you at some point.
Thank you
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 03:21 pmEdwin has left us on 19 August 2019. He has fought the good fight and has gone to a better place. We will always remember his fighting spirit until the end. His thirst and hunger for life is admirable and inspirational, even to the doctors who knew him. I hope. . . . .
Edwin is fighting
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 03:45 pmEdwin was transferred to the new hospital on Tuesday evening. The journey there was difficult and when Edwin reached the hospital, the medical team found him to be hypotension and the need for oxygen increasing. The first night was a long night spent doing a lot of blood test, scans. . . . .
Edwin does not want to give up
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 08:00 amEdwin is still warded, despite his Sister telling him, “it’s just two nights, we will go to hospital and get your ankle treated, find out what’s wrong and we will go back home.” It’s been almost 1.5 month in hospital. Doctors are still unsure what’s up with the swollen painful. . . . .
Update on 12 July - Edwin’s Sister
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 07:41 amEdwin went into the icu on Tuesday as his need for oxygen escalated and he felt that he couldn’t breathe. They did a broncoscopy in the ICU and the results showed that it were some viruses and they are treating Edwin for it now. They had also “washed” Edwin’s lungs. . . . .
Update on 2 July - Edwin’s sister
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 07:39 amEdwin is back in hospital, warded due to a severe leg pain and coughing up blood. The doctors just found out there’s bacteria in the blood. Awaiting more tests to confirm whether is it the lungs or the leg... hope they quickly determine and my brother can overcome this and
Update on 25 June - Edwin’s Sister
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 07:37 amI would very much like to give an official update but I have been logged out of the account and I can’t remember the password and my brother is not in the best state of mind to talk to anyone. It’s been two months since he was discharged. The two. . . . .
Latest updates
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 08:20 amEdwin has been discharged one week ago, after 51 days in the hospital. Although this time there was no ICU stay (thankfully!), the doctors did comment that his condition is worse off than last year. There was a scare on a particular Friday - when the ICU team was called. . . . .
Edwin hopes for a transplant
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 02:15 amOther than paying for the recent long hospitalization, money raised in this crowdfunding will go towards Edwin’s bone marrow transplant in the future. At present, the doctors at his hospital has told him that they are not inclined for him to do a transplant as the risks outweigh the benefits.. . . . .
Reason for this crowdfund campaign
Update posted by Edwin Chen at 10:17 amAs Edwin’s family, we want to continue to fight together with him and to give him hope to carry on. Through this campaign, it can ease some of our financial burden so that we can turn our attention more to Edwin himself and to spend more time with him. Also,
Donors & Comments
- Team Trident member
- Donated on Oct 06, 2019
Responding to team member’s appeal to help Edwin’s family cope with the medical costs.
- EN
- Donated on Sep 19, 2019
- Anonymous
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
- Anonymous
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
- Guest
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
- Anonymous
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
- Anonymous
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
- Weilin Koh
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
- Yen
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
- Anonymous
- Donated on Sep 17, 2019
Responding to team member’s appeal to help Edwin’s family cope with the medical costs.