Aris Alković, the father of six-year-old Feđa Alković, who is fighting a vicious disease - a malignant brain tumor, thanks everyone who donated help and believes that Feđa will soon get a new chance for healing.
The only hope for Feđa is treatment at a clinic in Houston, in the United States of America (USA), but this requires 300.000 dollars (275.172 euros).
Aris Alković said that so far approximately 210.000 euros have been collected and that he hopes that all the money for Feđa's treatment will be collected by the end of the working week.
"Our fight has been going on since May 14, 2019, when we first noticed the symptoms, which were frequent headaches, sleepiness, nausea, and we decided to take the child to the children's hospital, where we did a magnet and we had something to see. It was a tumor of about seven centimeters," said Aris Alković in an address broadcast on tonight's Reflektor show on Television Vijesti.
He said that the findings were sent to a clinic in Turkey for a neurosurgeon's opinion, where they said it was probably benign due to its size.
"We sent the findings to Belgrade and they said that they would operate immediately if there was nothing to wait for. That's how it was. Our fund approved us after three or four days and we asked for neurosurgery in Belgrade, where he was operated on. Doctor came on May 19, visited Feđa and said that there would be an operation on May 21. It went well, it lasted four or five hours, everything went well and the recovery was good later. We were waiting for the pathohistologist's report, who unfortunately said that it's grade four glioblastoma multiforme. In disbelief, I didn't want to admit to myself, literally in an instant I thought I was losing my child, I asked for a review of the findings, I took the plates to Ljubljana and Vienna for review, where they confirmed the same," said Alković.
He added that Feđa will start radiation after that, one month after the operation.
"He underwent 30 radiation treatments at the Institute of Oncology in Belgrade. After that, he was prescribed 12 cycles of chemotherapy. When we finished all of that, we came to Podgorica and every 21 days went to Belgrade for therapy and check-ups for the next year. After completing the therapy, at the control magnet in Podgorica, Feđa has relapsed. I immediately contacted the neurosurgeon who operated on him and said that I don't need to bring him, just to bring the findings of the magnet," said Aris Alković.
He said that Feđa's tumor is located in the brain chamber.
"That's the place where the neurosurgeon in Belgrade told me that wherever in the world I take him, there is no possibility of removing it surgically. After that, let's turn to radiologists and oncologists to see what they can do for Feđa. We were at the radiologist and oncologist, they said that they would do radiation, five fractions of sterotaxic. It is a type of surgery in radiotherapy, but that they do not currently have the conditions to carry it out so quickly. I then came to Podgorica and our Health Fund approved five radiations," said Alkovic.
He said that after two months a new problem appeared.
"We came to the Acibadem clinic in September 2020, and then he underwent five treatments, after which we were told that Feđa would receive chemotherapy for another six months," said Alković.
He said that it was no problem and they returned to Podgorica and prepared for the trip to Istanbul, where six months of therapy were scheduled.
"It was a very difficult six months, he was more in the hospital than in the hotel. Every day therapy, then he receives blood, then his blood count is not good, then platelets. Then recovery until he starts eating, then pain. Every month the situation is getting worse and worse. In the hope that something will get better, but there is no improvement. Feđa has a new tumor, which means that she must have new chemotherapy and radiation. They are prescribing five more stereotaxic radiations and 12 cycles, they will inform us for another year at every four weeks that chemotherapy will be done. We have reached the 10th cycle and the problem is happening again, the tumor is returning, which is in a huge expansion and progression, in two months it has grown to almost five centimeters. This is now relevant. He is it was surgically removed, Fedja is recovering well, the doctors are very satisfied, and so are we. Everything went great. We are now in Istanbul and we are waiting for the Fund to approve 30 new radiations here. We are waiting for Fedja to remove the sutures and we are going with 30 new fractions radiation," said Alković.
He said that they are in constant contact with the "Be Humane" Foundation and that they are maximally correct and willing to meet.
"But we have a little problem with the papers that we have been waiting for from Houston to send to us for about 15 days. The same thing happened when we were sending papers from Montenegro to Istanbul, where we were waiting for the doctor to write down which treatment Feđa will receive in order for the Fund to approve it. They said by Wednesday that they would probably be able to complete the paperwork to hand it over to the Foundation so that they would meet us as they said, agreed and promised. I also want to thank them, they have been there since the first day and while we were here donating are 15.000 euros for Feđa," said Alković.
He said that the further plans for Houston are that after this radiation, Feđa should be included in therapy, which is quite expensive and will last six to seven, and maybe eight months, because the first thing to do are the tests, which are paid for separately, independently of the therapy. and after that therapy is also paid for.
"Therapy as therapy, there is about a month per cycle that can last five or six days in a row and be from 17.000 to 23.000 or 24.000 dollars and it is exclusively therapy without some God forbid side effects, controls, magnets, blood transfusions, side effects that can happen from therapy to therapy between cycles. This is all paid for separately. As for the plans, now we need to do the radiation first, after that we will be in Podgorica for a short time, finalizing the visa. We have already submitted it , we also sent a guarantee letter from the clinic in Houston, and I hope that he should start that therapy as soon as possible after the radiation," said Aris.
He said Fedja's treatment in Houston will last seven or eight months.
"In the first month, he will undergo examinations and tests, and after that, therapy with drugs from the group of antineoplasts, which are currently not available in Europe, will be included," said Aris Alković.
He said they were told to seek help in San Francisco and Houston for those drugs.
"We sent emails to two clinics in Houston and in San Francisco. One clinic in Houston rejected us, this clinic accepted us and we have been communicating with them for two months. So I sincerely hope that they will help us to get out of this. at the moment, I think that approximately 210.000 euros have been collected to our surprise. I hope that by the end of the working week, all the money for Feđa's treatment will be collected. Thank you to all the citizens of Montenegro who participated in this action," concluded Aris Alković.
Giro accounts, to which aid can be paid, are, CKB Bank: 510-0210988215028-20, in the name of Milena Alković, Addiko banka 555-9000272528-36 in the name of Aris Alković.
For payments from abroad 10093630450000, SWIFT CKBCMEPG, IBAN ME25510021098821502820, in the name of Milena M. Alković.
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