Amanda from Starfish Foster Home needs help in the most immediate kind of way.
She has recently been diagnosed with cancer, and upon further testing, it has become clear that she needs to get the very best care – in the US or Europe. Do you or does anyone you know serve as a senior administrator at a top quality cancer center?
Please take a moment to read the note below from the Starfish Board of Directors and see if you, or someone you know, can help Amanda, a woman who has selflessly dedicated the last 7 years of her life to caring for the least of these in China. To date, Amanda and her team at Starfish Foster home have have taken care of 168 children, arranged more than 190 surgeries and had 72 international adoptions.
Amanda needs our help, not for her babies this time, for herself. I pray that all of us in the adoption community will do all we can to spread the word – to find her to a top-level cancer center, where she can get the very best care.
From the Starfish Board of Directors; Tuesday end of day EST, Feb 7th, 2012,
Dear Starfish Friends and Family,
As you know, our Executive Director and beloved friend Amanda has cancer, and is in great need of immediate, top quality medical care.
We need to get her to a modern facility/hospital in the United States or Europe as soon as possible. We are urgently asking each of you for a very specific kind of help.
If you or someone you know has contact with a top senior level administrator at a quality cancer center, please let us know immediately. We need to know if they would be willing to let Amanda come and receive the complicated care she needs – pro bono – as their way of helping a person who has given the past 7 years of her life saving hundreds of babies through donated, medical care. Perhaps they would be willing to now do the same for her. This can only be the very highest level of hospital contact – we are short on time and need answers immediately.
If you, or someone you know, has this kind of highest level connection to a top cancer care center, please contact Patrick McLaughlin as soon as possible, at:
Patrick
917-494-7691 or paddymac0130@gmail.com — any time of the day or night — time is of the essence.
Sincere thanks,
Patrick and the Starfish Board
I am so sorry to hear this news. What kind of cancer is it?
I do not know anyone there but I live just 2-3 miles from MD Anderson which is one of the top cancer centers in the world. If she ends up coming here, I can help her in any way at all that she needs. I will also ask the women at my church is anyone knows anyone there. Lots of people in my neighborhood and church work there, I just don’t know them at all. Saying lots of prayer for this selfless women who is a shining example of what God wants us to be.
Kim
I wish I had some connections that way, but unfortunately I don’t. I’d first read about Amanda in an alumni publication for my college. She sounds like an amazing woman and I’m so sorry she’s going through this trial.
What about Jon Huntsman???!!! His father is the benefactor/creator of Huntsman Cancer Institute in Utah, they are leaders in cancer treatments and research. Jon himself is an adoptive parent to two Chinese little girls and served as the Chinese Ambassador for Obama. I also have a friend that runs an adoption program in Taiwan and she is familiar with someone in administration with Starfish, they share the same faith, LDS, and as we know Jon Huntsman is LDS. Possibly he already is familiar with Starfish?
I just contacted my friend that has the Starfish connection, chances are very likely that she has a relationship with the Huntsman family. Geez, I hope so!
Oh my goodness. Shasta’s suggestion is perfect! I went to high school with a Huntsman……I think a cousin of some sort to Jon. Yes, the Huntsman Cancer Institute would be ideal.
Good news! My friend. Laura Trinnaman, actually has several connections to the Huntsman’s. Amanda is LDS, so there is a VERY good chance she knows the Huntsman’s also. There are not too many LDS people in China, so here’s hoping. Laura has been very busy sending out emails and making phone calls on Amanda’s behalf, she’s also in contact with the U of U, they work in conjunction with The Huntsman Institute. Goodness, I really hope this works, it would be a perfect place for her to receive treatment.
Hello,
My name is Michelle. I work at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Can you tell me what kind of cancer Amanda has been diagnosed with?
Stefanie,
I have passed this information on to my husband who is a well connected surgeon. He may be able to help and has emailed Patrick.
My cousin is a doctor at MD Anderson. Although it sounds like y’all know MUCH bigger people than I do!! I hope the Huntsman situation works out. It sounds positively Providential!! I’m not sure what my cousin could do per se, but I know she would love to help if she possible. I emailed her the particulars and she will be back in touch ASAP.
Praying!!
I am Amanda’s mother. She has a sister Karen and a brother Chris in South Africa. We are devastated about the news of Amanda’s cancer and would appreciate it very much if someone would keep us posted regarding her movements. My son tried to phone her as soon as he got the news but got no reply. We assume she was already. In hospital at that stage. We are praying for her and we all love her very much.
NIH? in Bethesda, Maryland?
Do let us know what you hear. I am so sad about this.
Sitting on edge of chair waiting to hear something.
Amanda is an amazing woman. I have been so inspired
by her work. mtnscene
Wow! So sorry to hear this terrible news! Starfish is in our city and my husband has talked with Amanda before. We will be praying for her and also that someone steps up to fill her shoes.
I am so sorry to hear this, as a mom with a child battling cancer right now my heart just aches, she’ll be in my prayers hoping she gets the treatment she needs.
You will never know how much it means to me to see you post about Amanda. Our Flower is one of Amanda’s first 6 babies. She will always be part of the legacy that started Starfish. Amanda is one of the most remarkable women I have ever met. We have been so blessed to have her stay in our home a few times in the last couple of years, when she has visited the states, and witness her receive the much deserved Humanitarian Award from BYU. She is truly a member of our family and Flower is so sad that her ‘china mom’ is ill. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for spreading the word!
I also have a question for you. Flower has designed two t-shirts to sell in order to raise funds for Amanda. What is the best way to go about this so we get them for as inexpensive as possible to insure the very most gets donated? We plan to donate 100% of the proceeds. Thank you!