DUBAI // A leukaemia sufferer has made a plea for help to pay for a bone-marrow transplant after suffering two relapses.
Larry Castro, 35, from the Philippines, is back in hospital for chemotherapy to fight off the disease but time is short.
The father of one 12-year-old daughter, Charmaine, is undergoing his third tranche of treatment since being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in 2011, but the harsh nature of the therapy has weakened him.
“Any chance I have of making a long-term recovery depends on me finding a bone marrow donor,” said Mr Castro, who works as a building painter in Dubai.
“The doctors have told me that I only have a 20 per cent chance of survival without a bone-marrow transplant.
“It’s a really desperate situation now.”
Fortunately, his mother has agreed to be the bone-marrow donor but he still needs to raise Dh400,000 for the operation.
Complicating matters is that Mr Castro’s current hospital treatment is not covered by his health insurance.
“I’m appealing for help from the public, if anyone can help please get in touch with me,” he said.
He was admitted to Dubai Hospital’s haematology department in September last year for chemotherapy.
The form of leukaemia he has is a cancer of white blood cells and is very aggressive, resulting in frequent infections.
He was diagnosed with AML after tests by Rashid Hospital in 2011.
“I was not prepared financially,” said Mr Castro, who was working at a supermarket at the time.
“My income was barely enough for my daily needs, let alone the hospital bills but my doctor recommended that I must undergo chemotherapy immediately.”
He took five cycles of chemotherapy over six months, which held the disease in check for a short time.
A bone marrow sample was taken from him and sent to Germany for tests and revealed he would require a transplant.
He was discharged in March 25, 2012, and thought he was recovering. In April of the following year, however, his gums began to bleed and was told by doctors at Dubai Hospital that his blood platelet levels were “dangerously” low.
Following more tests, it was revealed he had suffered a relapse and had to restart another six-month treatment that same month.
He then relapsed again in September last year and has been undergoing more chemotherapy.
The hospital accepted his plea for treatment after he promised to pay for his care once his health insurance cover had ended.
“Doctors have said with finality that only a bone marrow transplant can help me now for long-term recovery,” he said.
“But the cost for the transplant is Dh400,000.
“Also, I don’t know how much the final cost of my treatment will be until I’m discharged, so if people can help with that as well it would be a big help.”
Once the funding is in place the transplant would take place in the Philippines.
Anyone interested in helping can contact Mr Castro on larrycharm9@yahoo.com.
nhanif@thenational.ae
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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