Tag Archives: Cancer

MIQ overturned the decision of a Kiwi man with Trev Ponting cancer who was stranded in Japan | Instant News

January 30, 2021 NewsDesk

Trev Ponting, New Zealand aged 46 lives in Japan, with his children Mia, aged 3, and son Toa, aged 18 months. Photo / Provided

Trev Ponting is likely to return to New Zealand on Thursday after MIQ overturned a decision that would leave a dying Kiwi stranded abroad.

Japan-based Ponting has end-stage brain cancer, and all he wants is to go home to see his mother. But initial applications for emergency shelter in managed isolation for the 46-year-old man, his wife Aiko and their two young children were rejected yesterday.

Just before 6pm tonight, the family learned that the decision had been overturned, Ponting’s joyful sister, Yvonne Ponting, told the Herald.

“I’m really relieved and overwhelmed and excited and scared. I don’t have enough words, I’m out of gratitude for everyone who supported us.”

She has spoken with her brother via video call, which she describes as “emotional”.

“He’s conscious but he needs a reminder because his short term memory is lost. But he knows he’s coming home.

“He said something like, ‘I’ve been told I’ll be home’ and we said, ‘Yes you, bro. Yeah you’.”

The initial decision against the family of four sparked pleas for help from the Christchurch-based Ponting family, especially after it emerged that children’s entertainment group The Wiggles was hastily given MIQ spots for their crew of 12 ahead of a nationwide tour.

Ponting, who has lived in Japan for 20 years, told them his last wish was “to be with his mother,” said Yvonne Ponting.

“He said to us: ‘I just want to be with my mother’.”

Trev Ponting, New Zealand citizen who lives in Japan, with his wife Aiko and daughter Mia. Photo / Provided

The race now is to get their spouses and children on a flight home as quickly as possible, which at this stage may be a Singapore Airlines flight departing on Wednesday and arriving in Auckland on Thursday, said Yvonne Ponting.

“He will fly to New Zealand today if we get him [the emergency MIQ spots] the first time. It caused a five-day delay, but now we have to get past that. “

The only disappointment was that the “team from Japan” helping the family couldn’t be in New Zealand either.

“They are extraordinary.”

He would like to thank everyone who has supported the family since Ponting’s plight was made public.

“This takes everyone’s effort.”

Ponting has lived in Japan for the last few years, where he works as a ski instructor.

In 2019, around Christmas time, he received the bad news that several tumors had been found in his brain.

He underwent surgery to remove the tumor and spent 72 days in hospital that year.

A long process of recovery awaited him and his family trying to move to New Zealand after a new tumor was discovered around September last year – but then of course the world has turned upside down because of Covid-19.

His doctor had now informed him that he would only have a few months to live.

Ponting’s heartbreaking story caused a violent backlash to the decision, with thousands of posters on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook calling on the Government and those running MIQ to overturn the previous decision.

.

image source

New Zealand

Covid 19 coronavirus: Dying men are denied last chance to return home as emergency-run isolation areas are denied | Instant News

January 30, 2021 NewsDesk

Trev Ponting is dying of brain cancer overseas – and all he wants is to go home to his mother.

This is the last wish of her family here in New Zealand and her friends in Japan, where she lives, are trying desperately to fulfill.

But this is one that too many officials seem to be asking for; After applications for emergency shelters in managed isolation for the 46-year-old man, his wife Aiko and their two young children, aged 3 years and 18 months, were rejected yesterday.

Sister Yvonne Ponting said the family from Christchurch could not understand how a dying New Zealander trying to return home did not guarantee acceptance of an emergency shelter in a managed isolation and quarantine facility.

It was even more unexpected when news appeared on the children’s entertainment group Wiggles hastily applied the MIQ a place for their 12 crew ahead of the national tour.

“I don’t believe it. This is New Zealand – we care for each other in this country,” he said.

‘I just want to be with my mother’

She admits that her children loved The Wiggles growing up and appreciates that many people across the country are looking forward to seeing them.

“But my brother is dying and he has a young family who desperately need our support.

“We just want to fulfill his dying wish – and that is to be with his mother. He has said to us: ‘I just want to be with my mother’.”

Trev Ponting, 46, carries daughter Mia and son Toa. Photo / Provided

Trev Ponting has lived in Japan for the last few years, where he works as a ski instructor.

In 2019, around Christmas time, he received the bad news that several tumors had been found in his brain.

He underwent surgery to remove the tumor and spent 72 days in hospital that year.

His doctor had now informed him that he would only have a few months to live.

Access to emergency managed isolation is denied

Yvonne said it was a devastating blow to family and friends involved in preparing the paperwork – including letters from their doctor’s relatives in Japan, hospital staff in Japan and important destination visit visas for Trev’s wife and two children, Mia and Toa.

Everything was arranged and Trev and his little family were packed and ready to fly as soon as the news was removed.

“I thought the visa was quite difficult and this part would not be that difficult. I couldn’t believe it when it was rejected.

Ponting family in Japan. Photo / Provided

Trev Ponting, 46, with daughter Mia, 3. Photo / Provided

“Looks like there’s no mercy or anywhere else we can ask them to reconsider.”

A letter sent to the family said the application was rejected because it did not fit the “serious risk to health” category.

There are currently two categories for emergency allocation applications that MIQ offers to residents or New Zealanders trying to fly home.

Category 1 covers people with serious health risks requiring urgent travel to New Zealand.

Mother and father ‘beside themselves’

Category 2, however, includes anyone trying to enter New Zealand to visit a dying close relative and where timely travel is not possible if the person books through normal channels.

In this case, the latter was reversed – that the villagers trying to return home were dying.

Yvonne said their parents – mother Linda, 71, and father John, 74 – were “other than themselves” and she and her older brothers and their families were trying to keep them positive.

“We’re just a family trying to bring our dying brother home. There aren’t many of us here, but we’re doing everything we can to get Trev, Aiko and the kids.

“They are our family and we need to help them.”

.

image source

Travel

10-year-old girl dies after Covid travel restrictions deprived her of treatment in US | Instant News

January 10, 2021 NewsDesk

A ten-year-old girl has died after the pandemic prevented her from traveling to the United States for medical trials. Eva Williams was scheduled to fly to New York in April last year, but travel restrictions have been put in place. Her family managed to raise more than £ 300,000 in hopes of securing private treatment for Eva, but they announced that she died on Friday. Eva suffered from a rare high-grade diffuse pontine glioma brain tumor. She was diagnosed after complaining of dizziness and blurred vision in December 2019 and eventually a CT scan at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool revealed a lump on her brain. Eva lived with her parents in Wrexham, North Wales. Her father, Paul Slapa, 35, described her as the “most caring and loving daughter.” He said: “Over the past week, Eva had lost the ability to speak, eat and swallow fluids, and she suffered more than any child ever should have suffered.” Watching her fight every day was heartbreaking. “Eva is an inspiration to many, certainly to me, and I can’t begin to imagine how we’re going to move forward from here.” Every part of us is suffering and I don’t see how that can change, “Boris Johnson said. The government would” look into whatever we can do to support their travel arrangements “after Wreham MP Sarah Atherton raised the case during the Prime Minister’s Questions in July. However, her father and mother Carran Williams say her cancer had progressed too far this summer to be accepted for treatment in the trial.

image source

Technology

Your daily horoscope: January 9 | Instant News

January 9, 2021 NewsDesk

If today is your birthday

The connection between Venus and Mars on your birthday will bring you not just a drop of romance in your life, but also a flood! The only danger is that your passion may disappear with you, and eventually you will have difficulty keeping your promises.

ARIES (March 21-April 20):

When deciding what to do next, put aside financial considerations for now. If you are attracted to an event or want to participate in a social occasion, do it without worrying about the cost. You will find a payment method later.

Taurus (April 21st to May 21st):

Now that Mars is moving your signal, this is the perfect time to complete and complete a long-term project and complete the work. Once you have accumulated a lot of energy, you don’t want to stop-but, of course, first, you must start.

The story continues under the advertisement

Gemini (May 22 to June 21):

Try to work by yourself this weekend. That way, you won’t be angry when someone who doesn’t share your talents or your promises does bad things. If something goes wrong, you can only blame yourself.

Cancer (June 22nd-July 23rd):

If you hope to get enough in the next 48 hours, you will find a way to get it. However, there is such a risk, and once you master it, you may find that you don’t want it at all. Think twice before taking action and don’t make your actions irreversible.

LEO (July 24 to August 23):

This is a good time to solve professional problems, but only if you are ready to take on new responsibilities. If you want others to keep up with your plan, you may be disappointed, so please give them reasons to support you. Share rewards and applause.

Virgo (August 24 to September 23):

Do something positive this weekend, and exercise if possible. You have a lot of suppressed energy to get rid of. The best way is to find a store that is both creative and interesting. Teamwork and sports are outstanding stars.

Libra (September 24 to October 23):

If you want to get along with someone this weekend, you need to put in extra special effort to understand why they think and act in their own way. Talk to them and ask them sincerely what they need to know to improve the relationship.

Scorpio (October 24 to November 22):

How you react to others in the next 48 hours will determine how fast you move towards your goals in the next few weeks. When Mars crosses the partnership area of the chart, you need to be confident, but not aggressive.

Sagittarius (November 23 to December 21):

What you think is valuable may become obsolete this weekend, but soon, better things will replace it. As you realize the need to save energy, the pace may change in the coming days.

The story continues under the advertisement

Capricone (December 22 to January 20):

Start something new this weekend, which will stimulate your imagination. Mars, a dynamic and ambitious planet, moves in the most active area on the chart, and there is really nothing you can do right now. Be magnificent.

Aquarius (January 21st to February 19th):

If someone says something that bothers you today, your first reaction will be to fight back verbally, twice as difficult. But is this really a good idea? Only this time, make the situation smarter. You can do it without effort.

Pisces (February 20th to March 20th):

You haven’t made enough noise recently, but as Mars moves in the communication area of the chart, you will find it easier to open your mouth and make comments. If you speak hard, people may start to value you more.

Discover more about yourself in the following locations sallybrompton.com

.

image source

pakistan

Pakistan’s fight against cancer amid a pandemic | Instant News

January 9, 2021 NewsDesk

As we leave behind an extraordinary and very difficult year, all of us at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) would like to thank the Pakistani people for their extraordinary toughness, compassion and generosity. The Pakistani nation’s support for the national goal of Shaukat Khanum means that we can fight on two fronts this year, as we fight cancer and the coronavirus. More than ever, in 2020, your support ensures that SKMT continues to be a beacon of hope amidst the gloom of the COVID-19 pandemic, for those with cancer. I would like to take this opportunity to review this year and tell you about our plans for the future.

As Pakistan witnessed the first wave of the pandemic, we took a number of measures in all areas of our hospital, in accordance with international guidelines and best practices, to ensure a safe environment for everyone in our facilities. These measures include confining patient attendants and visitors, screening all staff before entering clinical areas, enforcing social distancing, adhering to strict disinfection protocols, and using all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the World Health Organization. We do not let our guard down at any time, and continue to ensure that we are prepared to provide a safe environment for our patients and staff. The steps we have taken to limit staff interactions, for example rotating vulnerable employees to non-clinical areas or allowing them to work from home, have played a role in reducing staff infection rates.

Given our reliance on Zakat and donations, and with the expected huge reduction in clinical activity, we are naturally concerned about the possible reduction in our income, which provides free cancer treatment to the needy. We make a special appeal to all our supporters who are generous and humbled by the responses received in the form of Zakat and donations. We are truly grateful for the continued support of our donors, which is more important to us than ever before, given the unprecedented times we have all gone through, as we grapple with the many devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that is ongoing.

The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust has always been a forward-looking organization, and we have strong eyes on the future. We have started construction work on our third and largest cancer hospital in Karachi, and surgical oncology services will begin at SKMCH & RC, Peshawar, in April 2021, marking the completion of Phase III of the hospital’s construction. Work will also begin, God willing, on a new clinical building in Lahore, in September 2021.

The new hospital in Karachi will be Pakistan’s largest tertiary cancer treatment center, with state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities, all available under one roof. SKMCH & RC, Karachi, will serve all Sindh, as well as South Baluchistan, and will help bring cancer care closer to our patients. SKMCH & RC in Karachi, with an area of one million square feet, will be twice the size of a hospital in Lahore, and will have forty-seven outpatient examination rooms, a sixty-nine-bed chemotherapy facility, two hundred and eighty-eight inpatient beds. inpatients, sixteen operating theaters, and twenty-four intensive care beds.

For 2021, we need Rs. 19 billion to support not only our two state-of-the-art cancer centers but to continue building a hospital in Karachi, to commence construction of a clinical building in Lahore and to continue to ensure that the latest technology is used in providing cancer care in all of our facilities. As in previous years, we expect about half of it to be fulfilled through your generous donations and zakat.

Finally, as you know, we are in the midst of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and each of us has an important role to play in ensuring that we succeed in continuing the fight against cancer and the coronavirus. We cannot relax at this point, but if we continue to show the same determination that we had throughout the previous year, I am sure we will become a stronger nation and that Shaukat Khanum will continue to be Pakistan’s stronghold against cancer.

The author is the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust.

.

image source