Nathan Kandhai
July 20, 2023
4-Year-Old Nathan Kandhai has been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). AML is an aggressive form of cancer in the blood and bone marrow. Nathan has spent the past few months at Georgetown Public Hospital in Guyana, where his doctors have provided outstanding supportive care. However, due to the aggressive nature of his diagnosis, his local medical team is unable to provide further advanced treatment to combat the disease.
A plea for assistance was made to SHEA Charity, and we accepted Nathan’s case. We are currently working with his parents and his medical team to coordinate a lifesaving transfer to the United States for treatment. It comes with great caution that the window for treatment is quickly closing. Therefore, we need your help in providing a miracle for this precious child. Please help Nathan in this desperate fight for his life by making a generous donation today.
Update: August 10, 2023
Little Nathan safely arrived in NYC yesterday on the first leg of his treatment journey. He received a full evaluation by his NY based medical team and will continue on to Asia in the coming days to begin treatment at a specialty center for hematology oncology.
His medical team in Asia is made up of world renowned specialists in the field of cancer and blood disorders, and they are eagerly awaiting Nathan’s arrival to begin treatment.
Update: September 30, 2023
Since his medical transfer from Guyana to a specialized international medical center, Nathan has had a battery of testing and medical evaluations to confirm his diagnosis. While it was highly suspected that Nathan had Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), based on comprehensive evaluations of his medical history, family background, and diagnostic assessments, his medical team has confirmed that he does not have AML, but rather, he is believed to have Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS), a primary immunodeficiency disorder, with the subsequent development of Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Genetic testing has also detected a rare mutation in the WAS gene, which his doctors plan to reconfirm through a more extensive genetic panel.
In terms of treatment, his medical team are considering allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which is the only viable curative option for him. Thankfully, the center where Nathan is being treated, specializes in allogeneic stem cell transplant. The treatment timeframe is expected to be between 8-10 months.
Alongside the confirmation of his diagnosis, his medical team are preparing Nathan for the bone marrow transplantation procedure. An important aspect of this process is the selection of a suitable donor, for which his medical team in Guyana are assisting. In the coming days, the Guyana-based team will begin testing Nathan’s family members to identify a potential match. Once a donor match is identified, we will then work on having that individual travel for the transplant procedure.
All in all, Nathan is doing very well. Thank you to everyone who donated and supported Nathan in receiving this lifesaving opportunity.
Please join us and help save this young child by making a donation today!
Other ways to donate:
GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/NathanKandhai
-or-
Local Bank: Demerara Bank
Name: Lori Narine
Account: 2041325
For Wire Transfers
Account Type: Savings
Branch: Le Ressouvenir
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Mobile Money Guyana (MMG): 650-8658
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VENMO: @SheaCharityGY
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Zelle: shea@sheacharity.org
****Please Note: SHEA Charity only accepts donations through our online platforms and local bank. We do not solicit cash in-person donations; therefore, if you are approached by any person seeking a cash (hand-to-hand) donation, it is not on our behalf, nor is it in the benefit of the children in our program.
SHEA is a publicly funded charity, which is managed by volunteers. 100% of all donations are allocated to patient care. See our Gold Star Commitment to Transparency rating at GuideStar. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/47-5525774