University Medical Center Foundation

11/09/2010 UMC Foundation Awarded $20,000 Grant

Sobreviviendo GrantExecutive Director Dennece Knight announced the award of a $20,000 grant to the University Medical Center Foundation from Rio Grande Cancer Foundation to “Sobreviviendo El Cancer/Surviving Cancer,” a program that assists individuals who are unable to work during chemotherapy/radiation because of side effects (fatigue, nausea, etc.). Sobreviviendo Cancer offers patients short term financial support when all other options have been exhausted.

Teresa McGlone, Grantwriter UMC Foundation; Donna Crow, Clinical Coordinator, Medical Unit; Maria Licon, Coordinator Sobreviviendo el Cancer; Steve Yellen, Board Member Rio Grande Cancer Foundation; Jutta Ramirez, Program Office Rio Grande Cancer Foundation; Mary Ann Bryant, Nurse Manager, Medical Oncology, during a program site visit.

 

All grants and funds go directly to helping patients. Two out of ten Hispanic patients diagnosed with cancer are uninsured. Jose Velasquez was recently diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. He was a self-employed fumigator until his diagnosis. Jose did not have health insurance and now has to pay for his treatment out of pocket. He and his wife lost their home and now live with their son. Because of his illness, Jose can no longer work. “I know if it wasn’t for this program, my husband would not be here”, said his wife Elizabeth. Sobreviviendo helped Jose Velasquez with medical supplies, treatment, and medications.

 

 “These funds will help patients that have no other way to pay for their treatment. For a lot of our patients, we are their only hope. We are so grateful for support from Rio Grande Cancer Foundation” said Maria Licon, LMSW for Sobreviviendo.

 

 

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