Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
Mayaro mother of one Anessa Doon lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday night. She died at her home around 8 pm surrounded by loved ones.
Doon,22, fought hard to beat the disease but faced major obstacles. She needed life-saving medication from India that required authorisation from the Ministry of Health. The approval was never given.
While she waited, generous members of the public made donations into Doon’s bank account but a male relative spent almost all of it, leaving a balance of just $35.
After Doon, the mother of a two-year-old girl was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma two years ago, she was administered three different types of chemotherapy medication. Doctors recommended medication from India, but the family faced challenges in bringing the drug into the country.
Through donations, the family raised over $60,000 to pay for the mediation, not knowing that a male relative was spending the money.
Doon’s aunt, Alcian Dhunda, said they discovered that the money was missing when they got a bank statement on February 21. She said the relative also took some of the money from a barbecue fundraiser.
Dhunda said a report was made to the Mayaro Police Station the bank to block a card that Doon shared on a joint account
She said the relative spent the money over three weeks at various businesses, including restaurants, a car parts business, a hotel and the supermarket. He also made cash withdrawals.
Dhunda said after Doon found out that the money was gone, her condition deteriorated.
“Is like she was losing hope. We keep telling her she will get the medication but after she found out he take the money she had no hope anymore,” she said.
Just before Doon died she asked her mother for a Bible.
“And, she say she want to live to mind she daughter for she self,” Dhunda recalled.
She said toward the end, her niece was in a lot of pain.
“Imagine, we never hear nothing from the ministry,” she added.
Dhunda said they have been asking the relative to return the money.
“Now, they don’t even have money for her funeral,” she lamented.
Hours before Doon died on Tuesday, Guardian Media visited the family at their Mafeking home. Doon was lying on the couch and crying out in pain. After spending a week warded at the Sangre Grande Hospital, doctors discharged her on Monday to be with her loved ones.
They told the family that the cancer had progressed to stage four but still clung to the hope that she would survive.
Last month, in response to the family’s complaints, the Ministry of Health, indicated that routine checks by the principal pharmacist at the Chemistry Food and Drugs Division revealed that the drug in question was not registered for sale in this country.
“As such, the patient will be advised on the necessary processes to follow to access this drug or an alternative treatment.”
However, the family claimed no one from the ministry contacted them. Relatives were making funeral arrangements yesterday.