Media coverage !
**Fance 3 translation**
Mateo, 16, suffering from leukemia, needs donations to pay for treatment as a last resort.
After chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, leukemia resurfaced, in an even more aggressive form.
His last chance: a treatment provided in the US, which costs 172,000 euros. His family is calling for donations.
172,000 euros is the price of one treatment that could save Mateo, 16, who has been suffering from leukemia for two years. To gather is sum, the family is asking for donations.
LEPETIT family thought they were finally done ... Mateo was in remission after chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. "We even celebrated it, remembers his mother, Evelyne, and doctors, confident, thought he could go back to school."
Then in late July, Mateo began to complain of stomach pains. The disease had resurfaced in a very violent form. "Cells have mutated and were hidden in the bones, so were undetectable," says Evelyne. Only after further examinations and biopsy the doctors discovered that leukemia had not been eradicated. At this stage, there is no treatment in France.
One single treatment can cure Mateo
His parents did not despair of finding one. They discovered the existence of a treatment in the United States, provided in a clinic in Seattle. There, since 2011, has already been proven and saved 20 people of the 22 people treated. The decision is made to launch.
Saturday, December 5, doctors of Grenoble University Hospital confirmed, after testing, that Mateo is eligible for this treatment. And that's the only way to save him.
Only now we must collect 172,000 euros to pay for treatment. The amount is to be paid at once upfront. At the clinic in Seattle, doctors say "as soon as the sum is paid, the family can come." So many people are mobilizing themselves. Mateo, at foremost, launched his own blog, to tell his story and launch an appeal for donations.
"Mateo intends to fight"
The family, of course, who supports Mateo, (hospital at home), also mobilizes their surroundings and organizes fundraising. It creates an association to be more credible for donors. The mayor of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, where the family lives, has called upon his people. Firefighters will donate half of the profits of their demonstration on Saturday, December 12th. And many anonymous people whom have brought together 18,000 euros in four days. Evelyne can not believe the incredible support they receive. "All these donors who do not know us and are nevertheless showing the solidarity."
We must find this sum as quickly as possible because the time remaining for Mateo is « a matter of weeks" believes his mom. "But he hopes to fight."
