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On behalf of my brother-in-law Alex Ankrah (Nii Ankrah), I am appealing for help to pay for medical expenses from a recent and unexpected brain surgery. My brother-in-law is a 60 year old architect from Ghana, West Africa.
Sometime in December 2012 Alex lost sight in the right eye after having been misdiagnosed with Advanced Macular Degeneration (AMD) earlier that year. Subsequently, doctors told him there was nothing that could be done for the right eye therefore he should guard the left eye. He took this advice seriously. On April 1, 2014, Alex collapsed on the job and was rushed to the hospital weak, short of breath and with chest and body pains. He was treated and discharged the same day and given vitamins and blood thinning medication since doctors suspected cardiac/circulatory problems. Four weeks later he had lost over 10 kilos (22 lbs) and looked very wasted and frail. His physicians referred him to an endocrinology clinic who suspected low thyroid function. On May 1, 2014 Alex had a routine eye examination in Accra, Ghana. He was advised by the diligent young optician to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible because of abnormalities he observed in the eye . On May 15, 2014, following the advice of the ophthalmologist to get a CT scan of the brain he was diagnosed with a large amorphous meningioma which had completely engulfed the right optic nerve, thyroid gland, major blood vessels and was advancing rapidly and silently towards the left optic nerve! On May 20, 2014, the meningioma diagnosis was confirmed by a neurosurgeon at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (Accra, Ghana) and treatment options were discussed. The best option, surgery, was not possible at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana due to the closure of the operating rooms for renovation. On June 9, 2014 Alex arrived in Maryland, USA for consultation for brain surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) in Baltimore.
Due to the urgency of the situation and in order to save the left eye an emergency loan of $95,000 was raised from family and close friends in order to make the critical down payment to JHH. The balance of approximately $80,000 must be paid within 6 months (by February 2015). Being a Ghanaian citizen and not covered by any medical insurance in the U.S., Alex now lacks the means to pay his medical bills. This could take some time.
On July 24, 2014 a renowned team of neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists, etc. led by Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa ("Dr. Q") performed the surgery. Our family would appreciate your generous donation in any amount to defray the medical expenses incurred. All donations will be acknowledged and sincerely appreciated. Any excess funds will go to support the research and philanthropic work of Dr. Q’s quest of seeking to find new ways to defeat brain tumors.
Alex and his family thank you most sincerely for your kind prayers and financial support in anticipation of your positive response.
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