Family seeks $7.3M for surgery to save 12-Y-O cancer patient

The family of 12-year-old Marlon Jupiter is urgently appealing to the public for financial assistance to help fund a life-saving bone marrow transplant overseas after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer.

Marlon has been battling T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a life-threatening cancer, since 2023. Doctors have advised that his best chance of survival is an urgent bone marrow transplant. The treatment is currently unavailable in Guyana.

As a result, Marlon’s only option is to travel abroad for care. Discussions have already begun with doctors in Brazil, who have accepted his case and are working to coordinate his medical transfer. However, the family cannot offset the cost of international treatment, including surgery, travel, accommodation, and post-treatment recovery.

Speaking during an interview, Marlon’s sister, Lashana Jupiter, recalled the moment the family first realised something was wrong. She said he developed a high fever and was rushed to the hospital, where blood tests revealed his blood count was dangerously low.

“Subsequently some lymph nodes came out on his hands and neck and he was rushed back to the hospital. Some other tests including a CT scan and biopsy was done [and] it was confirmed he had cancer,” Lashana told the News Room.

Since then, Marlon has been in and out of hospital. The illness also disrupted his education, forcing him to miss large portions of school during Grades Five and Six. Despite this, he persevered with help from relatives who homeschooled him, and he managed to secure 469 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment, placing third in his school.

“We know Marlon keep pushing and going strong although he was in hospital and he got to get bored all the time and he started to get tired of those things,” Lashana said.

Although Marlon experienced a period of remission, doctors later recommended that he undergo further treatment and surgery that cannot be performed locally. After being declined by two countries, the family said Brazil eventually agreed to take him.

“They were like they can take him for treatment,” Lashana added.

Marlon is currently hospitalised as he awaits the funds needed to proceed with the transplant. The family must raise approximately US$35,000 (about $7.3 million Guyana dollars) to cover the cost of the procedure and related expenses.

Non-profit organisation SHEA has since stepped in to support the family’s fundraising efforts, but they continue to rely heavily on public donations to make the treatment possible.

Persons willing to assist can contribute through the family’s GoFundMe page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/miracle-for-marlon

Donations can also be made directly to Demerara Bank account #2041325.

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