There is a very known NGO, Cancer Association, to which I have donated quite some money over the years. My kids even had a yearly project from school, in which they were sent to collect donations, for this NGO, on behalf of our education system. It was fun, you knock on doors and ask for money. People will donate, and give you some candies. It is sure more fun than math class 😊.
So, the first thing I did, when my husband was diagnosed, was approaching this NGO. I got some material from them, and I read about Cancer. Ok, got it, but it wasn’t enough.
After a while, and as I wrote in another post about networking, we found out about the wonderful EXON 20 group, https://exon20group.org/index.html which was a very helpful source of information. It was all about the exact mutation that he had. They never knocked on our doors, maybe because they are in the United States. Quite far from here.
This NGO was not only about information, but also a great source of hope, as the CEO, Marcia Horn, was encouraging us with stories about new drugs which were developed, and about people who already started their third year, of living, after being diagnosed.
I also connected to a worldwide Facebook group related to this mutation, so I was constantly quite updated with the side effects, ways to treat them, opinions, newly released drugs, etc.
I also reached a local group, An NGO for lung cancer, in Israel, which was also a source of information: recommended doctors, tips on how to treat side effects from specific treatments, and also a source for drugs and nutrition products, that people had as leftovers and wanted to give away.
I also reached “Friends for heal” https://www.haverim.org.il/e/ an Israeli NGO which collects drugs from people who don’t use them anymore and provides them to people in need. This NGO also assists in writing appeals against health organizations, or insurance companies who decline to provide specific medicines. It may happen.
I also heard from one of my customers, whose father died from lung cancer, about an NGO that assists caregivers, mainly with social benefits which they deserve. I never had the time to contact them. Maybe a pity as I heard they have also support groups for caregivers. I could have used them at the time.
But what surprised me most, was the following:
We had major problems with parking at the hospital. The hospital has a dedicated space for cancer patients, but surprise, there is not enough space. At the time they built it, they probably didn’t realize there will be so many patients. Or cars. Actually, many patients drive themselves. You know, it’s a chronic disease.
So, each time we drove, I left my husband at the entrance of the day treatment and went to find a parking place. I never complained as the hospital is built on a mountain, and I had to climb by foot from the car to the entrance. Honestly, I liked it. I did some sports while enjoying the view.
Until came that day, in which my husband could hardly walk by himself. We arrived at the hospital, but he was so weak, that I couldn’t park the car elsewhere and let him walk alone. Out of despair, as I didn’t want to bother friends to come with us, only for escorting him to the hospital, I found out that there is another NGO. It is about volunteers, who are strolling around in the hospital, looking to assist people in need. Wow! I was amazed to find out these people really exist. Well, maybe since it was Jerusalem, the holy city after all.
It was a gift from nowhere. All I needed to do is just call, and someone would come to assist.
“How come I never heard of these angels?”. I asked the social worker. She answered, “You never asked”.
So, don’t be ashamed, google, use AI-GPT, ask people, ask the hospital personnel, or whomever you think is suitable. You may get the help you never thought was there. Waiting just for you.