radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Zelia Castello is accustomed to helping others, having served as a traffic warden before becoming a municipal police officer.
But just two years after serving for the Siparia Municipal Police, Castello is facing the worst setback of her life.
In January 2021, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Castello said following a series of tests she was told in April that cancer had started spreading aggressively in her bones.
A letter issued by Dr Kavita Ramlochan, consultant haematologist at the Southwest Regional Authority, said Castello has not had a favourable response to both standards and intensified front-line therapy, adding her disease was now classified as refractory, which means the cancer does not respond to treatment.
“At this point, the best chance of achieving remission would be with intensive salvage chemotherapy followed up by an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Stem cell transplant is not available and has to be sought abroad at great personal cost,” Dr Ramlochan said.
Zelia Castello
Since this diagnosis, Castello has been seeking treatment abroad and was accepted at the Max Hospital in New Delhi, India. She said airfare, a bone marrow transplant, stem cell treatment and follow-up care will cost over TT$1.4 million.
“It is scary, very scary, especially now that I know the cancer is spreading, but I have to face it if only for my son,” she said.
Castello said she and her family have been trying to raise the funds.
“My friends and family are doing whatever we can to help with these costs. Even if it’s sales or going from place to place seeking help, this is what we are doing,” she said.
Castello said her mission to raise funds has been filled with sorrow and happiness.
Her six-year-old son Kermani stays with a relative while she undergoes treatment at the hospital. Showing videos with her son, Castello said she tries her best to be positive.
“When people see me, they say maybe the cancer is not as bad as the doctors say but I know how I am feeling inside. Every day I face pain,” she said.
“I know of many people who have died from this disease this past year and every day I wake up, I have to say thank God that I am alive.”
Castello said her body swells with the disease and under her foot gets black.
Zelia Castello
“My worse fear is not being able to beat this disease and not being around for my son, leaving him here with nothing,” she said.
“I am asking the public to give me a chance to live for my son and my family. I want to be here as a mother,” she added.
Anyone wanting to assist Castello can contact her at 329-1688 or donate to First Citizens Bank Account Number 2283611. To contribute go to the website https://gofund.me/40f4d87e.
