“I cannot believe that Manzy is walking, talking, seeing everything around him”, said his father in gratitude to our staff. “I’m almost wishing to go home now, but of course I can’t, he must complete his treatment”, he continued.

Manzy is a four year old boy from Rwanda who was urgently flown in to 57357 in a critical condition thanks to the help of the Egyptian embassy in this sister African country. His father is a truck driver and his mother is without a job and raising three other siblings.

A solidarity chain has been formed around the boy with the first link being his North American Physician in Rwanda, who at the recommendation of her counterparts in Boston, guided the father to take him to Hospital 57357 where he could receive quality care for free.

When the boy arrived at 57357 on the 12th of October, his vision was impaired, one of his legs swollen, his body covered with white patches and he was bleeding from different parts of the body. He was assigned to Pediatric Oncologist Dr. Sonia Mahmoud who performed the necessary tests to find out that he was an MDS case, a severe form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Manzy’s case necessitated an initial aggressive chemotherapy treatment to achieve remission including the administration of the drug twice for a duration of 10 consecutive days followed by 20 days of hospitalization each time. This first part of the treatment which lasted more than two months has been successfully completed. The second part of the treatment which necessitates allogeneic bone marrow transplant (i.e. bone marrow from another person or relative) will start as soon as his 19year old brother is enabled to fly to Egypt.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of his pediatric oncologist in 57357, Dr Sonia Mahmoud and his physician in Rwanda, blood samples of his siblings and mother were safely flown in to 57357 to perform the necessary tests to find the right match for the bone marrow transplant.

Meanwhile, 57357’s comprehensive care approach compelled the Hospital to deal with the problem of Manzy’s vision impairment. Manzy suffered mainly from a severe eye infection due to his decreased immunity level. He was administered an aggressive anti-biotic treatment and underwent a minor eye surgery to remove fluid which threatened a detachment of his retina.

The excellent care he was given at the hospital and the vast transformation that happened in just a few little months gave his father reason for hope.

“I cannot believe that Manzy is walking, talking, seeing everything around him”, said his father in gratitude to our staff. “I’m almost wishing to go home now, but of course I can’t, he must complete his treatment”, he continued. But with his difficult financial situation, weakened more by his entire efforts channeled towards fighting to keep Manzy alive, the news that Manzy’s brother must be flown from Rwanda is an added financial burden on the family.

The allogeneic bone marrow transplant provided by Manzy’s 19 year old brother is thus the last step to realizing this story’s success and happy ending. The family is in dire need of financial support, one last ring in this chain of solidarity to complete the journey.

With financial support from the various entities involved, we hope that the costs of Manzy’s brother’s trip can be covered and a bone marrow transplant can be conducted. We ask for your help in doing so in order to save the life of Manzy, who touched the hearts of all of us here at 57357.

CAIRO, 19th December, 2014 (WAM) — A group of 20 students from the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Language School in Nasr City, Cairo, paid a visit on Thursday to the Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357 (CCHE 57357).

The students wore t-shirts that carried a message of thanks to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for her generous support to charitable activities.

The students said that they had got the idea from the generous donation of Sheikha Fatima to their school, and this encouraged them to adopt her as a role model in the field of charitable initiatives and noble objectives.

During the visit, the students toured the hospital sections and distributed gifts among the children who are under treatment, talked to them and posed for photographs.

The children expressed their happiness at the visit, saying that one of the merits of the visit was paid by a school that carried the name of Sheikha Fatima.

The students said that the visit aimed to support them and raise their morale to be able to combat the disease, adding that they wanted to be grateful to Sheikha Fatima as their school was named after her.

Sheikha Fatima School students urged their counterparts from other schools to visit CCHE 57357, which would have a positive effect on the health of cancer-afflicted children.

It is noteworthy that CCHE 57357 has a complete floor under the name of Sheikha Fatima and includes 30 rooms and 40 beds.

It’s December 2014. I stumble upon Bula on my visit to the hospital. I catch him while he was sending a text message from his phone to donate to 57357. I am intrigued.

A few months earlier, 12 year old Bula from Menouf in Menoufiya felt dizzy. He had a fever, low sugar levels, a bloated stomach and enlarged spleen. The doctors advised his mother to conduct a series of tests that eventually confirmed their fears: Bula had cancer in the lymph nodes.

His mother rushed him to our hospital where he was received by Dr. Riham Abdel Aziz who immediately prescribed an intensive treatment.

Bula is feeling much better today. “I thank the Lord that we have a hospital such as 57357. People should pray and thank God for this hospital. You see, I’m getting better and I’m only taking my second dose of treatment. My wish is to go back and play with my church friends for Christmas.”

“But I am also happy here at the hospital”, Bula states, “because people are taking care of me”.” I like to participate in the drawing workshop offered here. I drew a fish and flowers. I really like to draw nature. It makes me forget the pain.”

When I finally got around to asking him about the text message, he explained: “I am donating to the hospital through the text messaging service on my phone so that people like me can find the help they need. I’d like to tell everyone to remember to send a text message because you will help many children like me who are in need of treatment. That way, they will get better faster and go back home.”

Merry Christmas to everyone from all of us at 57357!

Mariam is improving and spending Christmas with her family in Menia

Mariam is a 3 and a half year old girl from the Upper Egypt province of Menia. She was just about to leave the Hospital with her mother when I met her at the day-care area after she had received a shot in the back. I asked her mother about her general condition and whether they would be able to spend Christmas at home in Menia. I learn from the mother that Mariam was admitted six months ago to the Hospital. She had been suffering from high fever, and lumps started to develop on her belly and all over her body. The doctors she saw suspected something wrong with her spleen and required certain tests which ultimately revealed she had leukemia( low risk ALL)

At this point, the Mother exclaims: I am so grateful to each and every donor who contributed to the establishment of 57357. When I first learned she had cancer, I was crying all the time, fearing I would not have enough money for her treatment. But as I came here and was offered for free the best of care by her physician, Dr. Iman Sidhom and the rest of the healthcare team, my fears faded away: Mariam was getting better soon after her first dose of chemotherapy and the lump in her belly was slowly disappearing. I was reassured seeing how much Mariam was surrounded with quality care, love and compassion.

As for Mariam, she is so excited that she will be able to go back to her friends and her hometown in Menia and wear a new dress for Christmas.

Donate to research at 57357 that pursues to enhance the care and outcome of many more patients like Mariam. Donate so that Mariam and her peers would find cure and hope for a better future!

A joint research study on very low risk ALL patients between Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357(CCHE) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is aiming to decrease toxicity and morbidity of the treatment of a special category of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The under study modification of the standard treatment protocol consists in eliminating two additional chemotherapy drugs in the first treatment phase and reducing the duration of drug intake for the treatment’s third phase. This modification would apply to a special category of low risk patients including Mariam which fulfill certain criteria and exhibit a certain response to treatment indicated from lab tests carried on the 19thday of drug intake. The application of the modified protocol started in 2011 and it is highly expected that this protocol will achieve a 95% success rate

In appreciation and honor of volunteers from 12 different associations, NGOs and institutions , 57357 hosted and organized the closing celebration of UN’s “ International Volunteering Week in Egypt “ at the Hospital auditorium last Friday, Dec.12, 2014.  Attending the celebration, which lasted from 1 pm to 3pm, were a delegation from the UN , headed by Monica Prisacariu, UNV Program officer, Mrs. Amal Gamal Soliman, First Undersecretary for the Ministry for youth and sports and top 57357 foundation  management. The event brought together people committed to different causes and from different walks of life including Hospital 57357, Helm , art2care, Ahmos, Gesr, Misr eL Kheir, Peer Egypt, Vodafone, Labanita, Engaz, Egypt’s Scouts . Yet, they were all drawn together with the strongest of bonds: their love for and generous giving to the less privileged of the society. This was no ordinary celebration: one could not but be touched by the positive energy that filled the entire place heightened by the cheers and encouragement of the Scouts group. One also could not but be filled with awe and admiration for all these people who give of their time and energy in secret and humility expecting nothing for return. Highlights of the event were the speeches of the UNV Program officer, Prisacariu, the words of the undersecretary of the Ministry for youth and sports, Amal Gamal Soliman, the short documentaries about 57357’s volunteers and the UN’s volunteerism week in Egypt, and the remittance of honorary certificates to the 12 organizations. “Egypt is one of the most vibrant civil society and this is because they have volunteers”, reveals Prisacariu while the undersecretary for the Ministry for youth and sports, Amal Soliman expresses her wish that volunteerism becomes a habit in the lives of people. Soliman also informs the audience that the Ministry has set up a number of clubs through which people can volunteer and that the Scouts Movement is the basis of the Volunteerism movement in Egypt. In parallel to the celebration, Art2care had set up workshops for drawing and handcrafts for the children in the garden. It is noteworthy that Hospital 57357’s Volunteers department constitute 3000 registered adherents. About 20% are active volunteers who are involved in the different daily hospital activities with the children & in fundraising, while the remaining 80% are seasonal volunteers. It set up the guidelines, policies and procedures for Volunteers placement, application, screening and training. It sought to encourage different sectors of the community such as retired, youth, students, employed and housewives to be part of  its volunteering programs. It has worked closely with MSE schools to set-up an in-hospital school for 57357’s in-patients. This year it has also collaborated with art2care to set up a one year program based on the initiation of patients to all forms of art as a therapeutic tool and a field of interest and specialization

Port said Governor joins the team in visiting El Nil School

Because Hospital 57357 is committed to safeguarding the wellness of Egypt’s children both the sick and the healthy, it is engaged in raising awareness about cancer causes and prevention through widespread comprehensive media campaigns . As such a multidisciplinary Hospital team was assigned to set up the “Home without cancer” campaign and its action to reach out to all Egypt’s provinces and all segments of the society.

The awareness campaign Team seized the opportunity of a 2 day visit to three schools in Port Said by the Foundation’s schools and Universities unit to join in and give a number of awareness presentations as well as to visit the KAPCI Coatings plant for paints.

The awareness team is made of physicians and researchers whose role is to prepare the awareness material dealing with cancer causes , early detection and prevention as well as healthy living guideline for presentations and publicity material . This team works closely with the Association of Friends of the National Cancer Initiative.

At the first School, EL Nil El Masreya, The 57357 team was welcomed  by the Governor of Port Said,  Major General Sameh Kandil who expressed appreciation for the praiseworthy role and action of the Hospital as a leading comprehensive healthcare institution providing free quality care and cure to children with cancer.

The team, then, paid a visit to Saad Zaghloul primary school and the Mohamed El Sayed and Hassan El Badrawy schools Complex. Wherever they went, the awareness team gave presentations which included valuable information about cancer and other diseases and healthy living tips and guidelines. They also held workshops and distributed gifts and informative fliers. They were able to make the children commit to a Healthy living oath.

At the end of their visit and responding to an invitation from KAPCI Coatings plant owner, Eng. Lotfi El Badrawy, the team toured the plant’s premises. It is noteworthy that KAPCI Coatings is one of 57357’s strong partners which, similarly to 57357, built its success and reputation on the basis of scientific research and sound planning. El Badrawy is appreciative of the fact that at 57357, people are constantly looking forward to develop and advance towards achieving world cure rates and beyond.

“Hospital 57357 is my second home. Today I walk around it with a different feeling. I am no more a patient receiving treatment or on a routine follow-up visit. Today, I am a visitor within a group of classmates who are proud of the level of technological advancement they have seen within its walls. Now I realize how much effort was exerted so that I would be provided with the latest and best quality treatment, care, and strict follow-up “

Those were Omar’s words during his visit to the Hospital last Thursday along with 25 of his colleagues from the Helwan University’s Informatics school. The students were greeted by Eng. Mohamed Arafat, Informatics department Head who was enthusiastic to show them all the infrastructure and complex informatics set-up which has enabled the hospital to become one of the most up to date digital Hospitals in Egypt and the Middle East. The students were able to appreciate all the effort that was put together in terms of the latest informatics and communication technology and processes to enable the Hospital to reduce errors, and manage patients cases in a timely and accurate manner in order to maximize their chances of cure and improve their outcomes

Thanks be to God and to your support, Omar was able to overcome bone cancer. Moreover, he was able to finish successfully his schooling education and to enroll in Helwan University’s school of computers and Informatics.  At 57357, so many more children are still on their long journey to cure, their hope in God’s Grace and in their imminent victory over cancer is great. Your donation has not only saved Omar’s life, but it restored to his family the joy of living. We wish Omar and his peer continuous success in their studies and a bright future ahead. We wish and pray that all our 57357 children with cancer would reach safely the shores of cure.

Thanks be to God and to your support, the Hospital has achieved an average over-all survival rate of 72% and is pursuing to continuously increase these rates. Be ready to embark with us on our future expansion journey and help us build the new 300 bed in-patient tower to enable more and more children with cancer to find cure and dream of a better future (God Willing). Your support to the new tower will enable us to admit 80% of annual cancer cases in Egypt.

On Friday morning December 5^th, 2014, one of the most important charitable events in the Arab world, the Zayed  Marathon, kicked off for the first time in Cairo in favor of Hospital 57357 at the Air Defense Stadium, concomitantly with The Emirates’ celebration of its 43rd National Day.

Under the patronage of the supportive state of the Emirates, and organized by the ministry for Youth and Sports, the event was attended by Emirati State minister, Sultan El Gaber, Eng. Khaled Abdel Aziz, Minister for Youth & Sports, Dr. Ghada Wali, Minister for social solidarity, Dr.Galal El Said, Cairo Governor, and Dr. Adel El Adawy, Health Minister.

 Two tracks were set up for the competition; a 10km long one and the other half that distance enabling four categories of contestants to participate: professional men and women, simple men and women, youth under 18 years of age and people with special needs. Around 12000 contestants took  part in the Marathon. Also attending the event were Mrs. Amal El Mossaferi, head of  Emirati center for strategic studies and research, Lt. general Mohamed Helal Al Kaaby, head of the Marathon’s organizing committee, Mohamed Omran, Head of the Egyptian Stock Exchange, top 57357 management and board members, and a number of 57357’s children

The decision to choose Egypt as the first Arab country to host the Marathon reflects the strong ties between the two nations and sends out the message that Egypt is a safe country and the heart of the Arab World. Moreover  the Zayed Marathon in Cairo  is the perfect channel through which the Emirates can support the noble mission of Hospital 57357 of providing free quality care and cure to all children with cancer.

Traditionally, this marathon, which gained large popularity, is being held for the past 10 years in New York in favor of kidney patients. Only this year, a second edition was organized in Abu Dhabi and a third edition in Cairo for the benefit of the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt. On the sidelines of the Marathon, a delegation of top Emirati statesmen and women came to the Hospital a day before to remit the generous  proceeds of the event they were able to collect . These will be directed to support  the proton therapy building which is a major component of 57357′s future expansion. Proton therapy is a  radiotherapy treatment with protons which has the advantage over the traditional one to produce minimal side effects and to have a higher degree of tumor ablation. Proton therapy will be available for adult patients, generating revenue for the hospital

A part from its humanitarian, wellness-oriented and touristic objectives, the Zayed Marathon is a means of reaching out to other populations through the support of humanitarian work.. It is one part of a chain of charitable initiatives by the late founder of the Emirates Sheikh Zayed Ben Sultan Al Nahian carried on after him by the State President Sheikh Khalifa Ben Zayed. The decision to choose Egypt as the first Arab country to host the Marathon reflects the strong ties between the two nations.

It is noteworthy to mention that the Late Sheikh Zayed Ben Sultan Al Nahian and his family’s charitable foundation were strong supporters of Hospital 57357 ever since its inception. Thanks to their generosity, the Hospital was able to acquire the most advanced diagnostic scan, the PET/CT scan and the second  cyclotron equipment in Egypt which produces the radioactive material necessary to perform this advanced type of imagery.