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Not Every "Good News" Story Has a Happy Ending
October 13, 2008 10:48 AM
By Simon McGregor-Wood, Correspondent & Bureau Chief, ABC News Jerusalem
Not every “good news” story has a happy ending it seems.
Earlier I reported the surprising and potentially hopeful story of a sick Iranian boy arriving in Israel for urgent brain cancer treatment.
The 12-year-old boy, known only as Roy, arrived at Tel Aviv’s Sheba Medical Center Friday. He was accompanied by his father and grandmother. At the pair’s request, their identity is being protected to avoid possible repercussions when they eventually return to Tehran.
But this weekend Israeli doctors confirmed he is suffering from the most aggressive strain of brain tumor that cannot be cured by surgery.
His condition is called glioblastema multiforme (GBM) and the cancer has spread to both sides of his brain and his spinal chord.
“If he had been brought here directly a year ago, we probably could have improved his condition more, but not cured him,” said Dr. Amos Toren in an interview with The Jerusalem Post.
The boy is fully conscious but is unable to sit up on his own. He is paralyzed on the left side of his body.
Doctors are now considering a range of treatments that may prolong and improve the quality of his life. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and even surgery, but there is no hope that Roy will ever be cured.
The costs of his treatment are being borne by the hospital authorities.
“We never even asked who will pay for the treatment here. It is very important to show the Iranian people that we are willing to treat them even though their country has no diplomatic relations with us and the regime has said it wants to destroy Israel,” said professor Ze’ev Rotstein, the Sheba Medical Center’s director general.
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October 13, 2008 in Simon McGregor-Wood | Permalink | User Comments (0)
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