Followup: Thanks from Baby Maarten’s family/friends; what’s next

This past Friday and Saturday, piles of donated items were sold at West Seattle’s Peace Lutheran Church to benefit 1-year-old Maarten (left), who’s been fighting a brain tumor for virtually his entire life. He and his parents had to stay in Boston where he’s being treated and couldn’t make it home in time for the sale, but organizer Claudia Ludwig, a co-worker of Maarten’s mom, tells us they’ve now raised $5,925 – including $3,625 from the sale (the rest is from PayPal and bank account donations). Claudia adds:

Please send a GIANT thank you to everyone who reads the WS blog. Maarten and his parents, Sacha and Francois will be back home in Seattle on Wednesday and they are SO thrilled by all of us coming together to help them in this way. Sacha told me (Sunday) morning when I gave her an approximate total that their 3 trips to Boston AND the 9 weeks lodging expenses are covered by our sale and there will be more left! She and Francois were in awe and so very very grateful. They’ll be updating the helpmaarten.blogspot.com soon and want to send out their thanks to everyone and feel so moved by our support.

Claudia also added a bit more about the treatment that Maarten’s been receiving – how it works and how costly it is – read on:

Also, as I was searching online for the approximate price of proton radiation therapy, I found this very clear graphic that really helps to explain how proton radiation works. I thought it might be helpful for people:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/12/14/business/20071217_PROTON_GRAPHIC.html#step1

It’s displayed in reference to prostate cancer, but I know the machine is similar. Also, I only found that the cost can exceed $100,000, for a round of proton radiation therapy,but not an individual amount to compare it to how much we raised. I am not sure how accurate this figure (from the NY Times is or how current it is).

After hearing of our sale, King 5 may cover Maarten’s story to bring awareness to pediatric brain tumors. I learned from Wilbert De Graaf, whose young son also just received proton radiation therapy for his brain tumor, that 97% of all cancer funds go to adult cancers, leaving 3% for pediatric cancer, of which the majority goes for researching leukemia since it is the most common pediatric cancer. This leaves a small amount for the second most common cancer in children – brain tumors. Even though we raised a seemingly small amount it is HUGE to Maarten, Sacha and Francois and their friends and family – both as a financial support and an emotional support too.

Donation information (and an ongoing chronicle of Maarten’s fight) can be found here.

Claudia September 21, 2009 (12:43 pm)

Many more donations have come in this morning and we’re now at about $6,700!!!!! We will never be able to express enough thanks.

Catherine September 21, 2009 (4:13 pm)

My thoughts and prayers are with Maarten and his family! He’s adorable. You can’t help but want to hug him. You’re a strong baby, Maarten!

Sacha September 21, 2009 (7:05 pm)

A thank-you post from Maarten’s parents:

Claudia already managed to express our feelings very well in posts above, but we wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to thank you all ourselves too. It is just amazing what you all have achieved for us this weekend. Thank you all!

Sacha September 21, 2009 (7:09 pm)

ps Catherine: Yeah, isn’t he just the cutest! And he always keeps his spirits up. We are super proud of him :)

Catherine September 21, 2009 (8:07 pm)

Yes, Sacha, he is cute! Look at his little belly and those chubby little arms! Go Maarten!

jeannie September 21, 2009 (9:06 pm)

What a darling baby! We wish him good health and a long and joyful life. I hope that health insurance is covering most or preferably all of Maarten’s medical costs. Also, remember that the Ronald McDonald House does great work in helping provide housing for families of little ones with cancer.

Meghan September 22, 2009 (8:01 am)

It’s sad enough that a sweet baby like Maarten has to face such a fight. What’s appalling is that they have any out of pocket expenses at all. If they lived in virtually any other of the rich, industrialized countries, their health insurance (considered a right; not a privelage) would pay for it. They wouldn’t need to rely on donations and garage sales to help pay for their baby’s care. But then the top 1% wouldn’t have as much buying power as the bottom 90%, as is true in our wonderful nation. Good luck, Maarten’s family!