00:00At just 39 years of age, Charlene Joseph has been knowingly living with cancer for more than half her life.
00:07At the tender age of 18, she was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.
00:15Her life took a drastic turn.
00:17After several rounds of chemotherapy, Charlene thought her fight with cancer was over when it went into remission.
00:23A sense of normalcy restored, Charlene began doing things she loved, like attending family events,
00:29hanging out with friends.
00:31She even started her own business as a nail tech and got a job as an immigration officer.
00:36But fate had other plans as life could not be so simple, at least for Charlene.
00:41The cancer was back for a second time, but being the trooper she is,
00:45she raised the funds for treatment and flew to Cuba for a stem cell transplant in 2017.
00:51That gave her further lease on life.
00:53Her triple blow came in December 2024.
00:56During a routine check-up, Charlene's blood count was lower than the ideal threshold.
01:01The cancer was back for a third time.
01:04In this instance, she was diagnosed with meloplastic syndrome.
01:08A cancer that damages your manufacturing system in the bone marrow.
01:14So it's like your blood is producing, but it's not being allowed to develop fully.
01:20So it won't get to your system to be able to supply you with what you need.
01:26So it will drop.
01:28You'll have to be on transfusions for as long as this transplant that is recommended is done.
01:38This form of cancer causes symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, unusual bruising or bleeding,
01:45which occurs due to a low blood count and swelling of the feet.
01:49Problems in the healthcare system, like shortages of blood at the blood bank,
01:53only serve to delay Charlene's treatment.
01:55Because the blood bank is low and it's only so much they can give.
02:01So I get what the government is doing.
02:07They try to help everyone.
02:09But for me, it's difficult.
02:11I'm A-positive and I also need platelets.
02:16That's the other thing.
02:18Because that is dangerous, having low platelets as well.
02:21Since then, she has been receiving interim treatment,
02:25but her doctors recommended an allergenic stem cell transplant
02:29available at a hospital located in Colombia.
02:32But it comes at a whopping cost of US $158,000.
02:36She started a GoFundMe account and was able to raise just over US $4,000.
02:42Charlene, who has never had to ask for assistance, finds herself doing so today.
02:47I'm pleading for your help.
02:49It's the only choice I have.
02:51It's the only choice to do this stem cell transplant.
02:54So I'm asking for your help.
02:57Every dollar counts.
02:58And I would appreciate it all.
03:01You can be part of Charlene's journey by donating to her account
03:04at First Citizens Bank to the account number 2426286.
03:09Or you can contact her directly at 391-2421.
03:14Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
03:16Hurry up this line.
03:26Here we go.
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03:32Yep.
03:32Underülpiste.
03:33vold's career.
03:33隨il.
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03:39Yep.
03:39police.
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