Hope for Eljonisa: Fundraising campaign saves Kosovar woman from leukemia!

Hope for Eljonisa: Fundraising campaign saves Kosovar woman from leukemia!

A moving story unfolds in the medical world: 14-year-old Eljonisa from Kosovo was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). There are neither adequate diagnosis nor treatment options in their home country. Her family decided to travel to Germany in hopes of receiving support from relatives in Bavaria. But the situation turned out to be more difficult than expected. Eljonisa does not have health insurance and several clinics in Bavaria turned her away. The costs for a more precise diagnosis amount to around 8,000 euros, while the necessary stem cell therapy can cost up to 400,000 euros, as op-online.de reports.

Find support in the medical jungle

The Malteser practice in Offenbach did not offer sufficient help because it mainly treats patients from the region. The dedicated coordinator Gabriele Türmer contacted oncologist Antonia Sahm, who works in the Maltese practice, to clarify Eljonisa's desperate situation. A fundraising campaign on “gofundme” has now been launched, which has already collected around 36,000 euros. Despite the growing financial support, Eljonisa urgently needed medical help. Antonia Sahm therefore contacted several clinics to find treatment for the young girl.

A ray of hope: treatment in Munich

The Munich Clinic Schwabing was the first to agree to accept Eljonisa without a fixed cost commitment. After initial investigations, it turned out that the type of cancer is easily treatable. The treatment costs were reduced to around 150,000 euros, which gave the relatives a touch of hope. Eljonisa is now being treated in the clinic and is already showing the first signs of positive development, which is a great relief for the family in difficult times.

The challenges during treatment

However, the chemotherapy necessary to treat AML also carries long-term risks. According to the Cancer Information Service, side effects such as weakness of the heart muscle or even the risk of a second cancer can occur. It is therefore essential to check heart function regularly and to pay attention to possible long-term consequences. Psychological stress such as sadness or fear is also not uncommon in leukemia patients and should not be ignored.

Support for the future

In order to continue to support Eljonisa and her family, Gabriele Türmer is planning a fundraising campaign at the Mainuferfest. This campaign aims to raise additional funds to cover the costs of treatment and to optimally respond to the girl's needs. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop, but the donations collected are already a sign of solidarity from the community.

The number of leukemia cases in Germany is growing every year: around 12,000 people are affected, as the Leukemia Foundation reports. Experts agree that continued research is needed to one day defeat this serious disease.