A letter from a friend

Monday, 5:11 pm

By Cyn

Jun

28

2010

Below is a letter I just received from a friend--a woman who used to work for me in another life!  Her son is dying of kidney failure and is desperate for a transplant.  Her other son is a perfect match but they will not allow him to be a donor--read below to see why.  I am posting this to see if any of your readers, Kate, might have ideas or suggestions.  I did forward this to Niki Tsongas, to Sue Tucker, to my friend Deb Silberstein who is running for Sue Tucker’s seat and asked all of them to continue to forward it.  I suggested to my friend she try to get in touch with John Kerry and to even try Scott Brown although I seriously doubt he would care one way or the other.  Any ideas you might have would be welcomed.  Thanks.

Cyn,

I apologize for being such a bother but I need to ask this favor.  So, I am going to explain the situation as best as I can.

Last Tuesday, the 22nd both my sons met with the surgeon and she outlined the situation on paper so they would be able to understand it better.  My oldest son is out as a donor because he has the same gene and because the disease is rare they don’t have a whole lot to go on other than that Peter needs a kidney transplant.  But, he also has a 50% chance of reoccurrence and in order to stop that at this time there is only one (1) drug on the shelve and it costs ---$300, 000 per year --- and the insurance does not cover it.

Where is our government Cyn? that allows these Pharmaceutical companies to make their own prices and make their own rules at people’s expense? This disease attacks mostly children and rarely grownups.  How can families afford such a price?

I have heard that some pharmaceutical companies are helpful for people that cannot afford their medication.  I am not sure if this applies to this high priced drug but I thought..... If you can tell me how to get in touch with Niki Tsongas maybe a letter to them from her office might be helpful OR she might be able to tell me what else to do.  It is all I am asking because you have met her and maybe she can help.

Again, and again I apologize but I have to reach out and do what I can do to help my son.  Thank you, Martha