Where is
Edison now?

Edison came to Australia so that he could help others but found himself in the horrible position of asking for help in a strange land.
He told us “I don’t want to cry anymore.” Thanks to the medication, his condition is under control, but he will have to keep taking the drugs for the rest of his life. He hopes to get his permanent residency which will allow him to work more hours and save up for a trip to see his family again.

  • Edison contacted many different foundations but each time he was told that because he wasn’t an Australian resident, they couldn’t help him. But one did refer him to Anglicare.
  • Edison couldn’t risk the flight back to Ecuador, thankfully having somebody to talk to at Anglicare has helped him in his darkest hours.
  • Having a strong medical background, Edison knew that he couldn’t take any risks with his treatment schedule and that his health also depended on a good diet. He started to think of suicide as the only way out. Thank God, Anglicare was there to assist with food vouchers and financial assistance.

This can’t continue

When Edison was diagnosed he did everything possible to help himself – contacting haematologists in Colombia and Peru to try and find a cheaper, effective medication but with no luck. He also reached out to pharmaceutical companies in Australia to ask for a reduced rate on the drugs he needed to live – again he received a negative response. He even had compulsory medical insurance, but they refused to helpsaying the condition was pre-existing (despite the fact that it was not detected in his medicals when he applied to enter Australia).

“Money is the first thing that counts and that makes me sad.”

At Anglicare we see the value in everyone – and it’s not monetary!

If you’d like to find out how you can help people avoid more impossible choices, please enter your details below.