Maria Gabriela Eastman needs your help. She is the newborn daughter of Eric Eastman, a long-time former resident of Nelson now living in Santiago, Chile.
Maria Gabriela has cystic fibrosis. In the first month of her life she has had two intestinal surgeries and is slated for a third in six to eight months. Most probably, she will develop lung problems in her childhood.
In Chile, not all medical treatments and medicines are free as they are in Canada. So far the family has spent $60,000 US for María Gabriela’s hospital stay and treatments. The cost is mounting at a rate of over $1,000 US daily. Some treatments and drugs for cystic fibrosis are covered by the government of Chile, but not all. For example, not covered is the drug Synagis (free in Canada, but $1,000 to $2,000 US per dose in Chile), which reduces the risk of deadly lung infections during the winter months — for her, the flu or common cold could have dire consequences. Synagis must be administered monthly from June to October (the winter season in Chile).
Eric Eastman, former head of the Kootenay Tai Chi Centre, says: “We have not run out of hope, but we are running out of money. For this reason I am asking you, as a member of the community of which I have been involved in for many years, to make a donation so that Maria Gabriela can continue to receive treatment.”
Donations can be deposited in the Royal Bank account No. 03200-5067087, Eric Eastman.
Bonnie Williams, Nelson