 My friend, Cindy, left this on my comment page tonight. I am so sad, outraged, and sick about this. How can this happen in this day and age??
I know you are all wanting to help and you have been so supportive in every way. If you can please take the time, to read below and help out with this it would be much appreciated. I know what I will be doing tomorrow. These kids deserve better. These parents deserve better. Things have to start to change. My husband said it best tonight…. “That leukemia drug shortage is bullshit. Bet they never run out of Botox or Viagra.” Tru dat, Wooddawg. Tru dat. Thanks lovies, xoxo Maya, Dear Rally Families and Rally Supporters, The past few days Rally has been receiving calls and emails from concerned parents and supporters asking if it is true that there is a critical shortage of preservative-free methotrexate, a vital drug for children with the most common form of childhood cancer, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Unfortunately, this is true. As you know, Rally’s mission is to find better treatments and cures for childhood cancer. Unless production of preservative-free methotrexate increases, hospitals will run out of the medication completely in the days and weeks ahead. Some institutions have already begun rationing preservative-free methotrexate. Chief of Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and member of Rally’s Medical Board of Advisors, Dr. John Maris, M.D, was recently featured on CBS news discussing the issue. This news story will give you a good overview of the problem. The childhood cancer community has come together as a whole and is asking all supporters to help. PLEASE ACT NOW! This is how you can help: Contact the US manufacturers of Methotrexate and ask them to: 1. Prioritize the production of the preservative-free form of methotrexate. 2. Consider working with the FDA to import preservative-free methotrexate if sources are available. Hospira, Inc. Mylan Inc. Sandoz, Inc. APP Pharmaceuticals, LLC (currently does not make preservative-free methotrexate but is working to get FDA approval to do so) Second, contact your Members of Congress and ask them to immediately send a letter to these same pharmaceutical companies requesting that they: 1. Prioritize the production of the preservative-free form of methotrexate. 2. Consider working with the FDA to import preservative-free methotrexate if sources are available. Contact your Representatives here , and your members of Senate here. To read more about this issue, please see People Against Childhood Cancer. Thank you for your concern and your action. Rally On! Dai H. Chung, M.D. Dean Crowe Meet Rally Kid Mia, ALL Fighter Mia was diagnosed with High Risk Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) on 3/13/3009 at age 2. She was sent immediately to Seattle Children’s Hospital, where they began treatment. This was only the beginning for Mia and her family. Mia and her family spent most of 2009 living in Seattle away from home and away from Mia’s best friend and biggest supporter, Noah, the best twin brother a girl could ask for. Mia is now 4 1/2 years old and has been fighting cancer for over half of her life. She was in remission until Christmas 2010, when she went in for a routine chemotherapy appointment to find out the unthinkable. After almost 2 years of chemotherapy, and only 6 months out from finishing treatment, Mia had relapsed. She was again hospitalized, and endured chemotherapy, radiation, and a stem cell transplant. Her twin brother Noah was a perfect match and was her stem cell donor. Mia was preparing to go home after her stem cell transplant when her family received the news that Mia had relapsed yet again. Mia is truly in the fight of her life. Mia’s parents are so proud of her for being brave and strong throughout her treatment, and so proud of Noah for being a loving and supportive twin brother. They say “It’s absolutely amazing the strength of a child and the beautiful connection these kids share. Mia loves dancing, listening to music, art and is an incredible athlete. Mia is a hero and reminds us that everyday is a gift – enjoy life!” |
Please help Rally around these kids!
4 responses to “Please help Rally around these kids!”
-
I called all 4 of of the companies and they were quite gracious. One spent 30 minutes with me talking about production issues. I became more educated. It’s the FDA that is controlling everything. And if I hear it again….it’s about MONEY! More women get breast cancer than kids getting cancer. Plain and simple. That is why Komen has been such a marketing and fundraising MACHINE. Tens of thousands of women get cancer, they need meds and we can make MONEY. The latest on Yahoo says that the FDA should be able to clear the way for the release of more Methotrexate (MTX). There are still other shortages. Thank you for getting the word out. The apathy about the plight of children just makes the journey so much more difficult.
-
I also contacted all four companies, but did so electronically. Hopefully if enough people contact them they will begin to realize the impact of their decisions. Thanks for sharing the information. I hope their phones are ringing off the hook today and that their email inboxes are bursting.
-
From Hospira: Hospira shares the concerns of patients and customers about the shortage of cancer drug methotrexate. It is important to note that Hospira has never stopped manufacturing methotrexate; in fact, Hospira increased production of the drug to make up for the supply gap that occurred when another supplier faced production challenges in the second half of 2011.
Hospira is doing everything it can to help bring more product to market. This includes working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to qualify a second supplier of the drug’s active ingredient to enable increased production. Hospira believes that it can increase its supply to the market if it can secure additional methotrexate active ingredient supply.
“Hospira is working urgently to help resolve the methotrexate shortage,” said Thomas Moore, president, U.S., Hospira. “Methotrexate is an important product for the care of patients with cancer, specifically for children with limited treatment options, and Hospira is committed to helping address the supply gap for this key medication.”
-
I was successful with two of the companies. Will continue with the other two. And now I will call my Congressmen and give them an earful. The Rally Foundation did a great job of including all of the necessary info…made it so easy to respond. This is how things get done…by hearing our voices loud and clear.
ROCKSTAR RONAN 
Leave a reply to Lori Cancel reply