His daughter consulted for knee pain and had cancer: the love pact behind an operation that does not come

Ana Belén Botta found out that she had bone cancer at the age of 18 and at the same age she underwent surgery for the first time. She was treated for knee discomfort and, although she had initially been diagnosed with a watery fibroid, it was later discovered that it was a tumor. “That’s where the fight started”told his mother, Viviana Pez, to TN. Two months ago, they told her that her daughter has to face a third operation, which implies unexpected expenses and almost unattainable for both.

Ana Belén is 30 years old and lives in Santo Tomé, a neighboring city to the city of Santa Fe, along with her mother. Viviana travels every day to the provincial capital to raise money for the operation, treatment and travel. At night, early in the morning and in the morning, she kneads, cooks the bread that she sells the next day in the offices of the Municipality of Santa Fe. They granted him a permit, so he can enter and offer his bread to municipal employees and officials.

Ana Belén’s surgical intervention is probably covered by her social work. “We are at the stage of presenting the papers and insisting that the operation be covered,” explained her mother, who must travel to Buenos Aires again to carry out the procedures.

The santafesin operation must be performed in Buenos Aires, at the Ángel H. Raffo Institute of Oncology. There he has spent all the interventions so far and it is the place where they were referred from the beginning. “At the age of 18 they sent me from here directly to Buenos Aires, I saw myself alone with her in a place I didn’t even know,” Viviana recalled.

Ana Belén should have surgery in July, yes or yes, according to the doctors’ diagnosis, since the new tumor is dangerous. Since both hope that the costs of the operation will be covered by the social work, they began to raise the money for their stay in Buenos Aires. “She has to be in Buenos Aires for 50 days after the operation and it is convenient for me to stay with her”Viviane pointed out. “The social work grants us only about $1,000 for four days and for two people,” she added. For this reason, she travels every week to sell her bakery.

The cost of the stay and everything necessary for the treatment of Ana Belén in Buenos Aires, not including the operation, is between 500 or 600 thousand pesos. So far, they have raised just over 30,000: “We need to raise the money to be able to achieve this operation.”

Viviana’s struggle: knead by night, sell by day

Viviana is over 60 years old. Until a few months ago, she worked in a house taking care of an elderly woman, but when the woman died, she was left without a job. Also he was dedicated to cleaning houses on a frequent basis, but never obtained a permanent position. “When I tell about my daughter’s condition and I comment that I am in charge of her, nobody wants to take me,” lament.

When he found out the number of days they must be in Buenos Aires and what it costs, he started a campaign to raise the money. In addition, the sale of her products also helps her to live on a daily basis. Ana Belén has a disability pension, but it is not enough for both. “Luckily we don’t have to pay rent, but we do have taxes, food and other daily treatment expenses,” said the mother. Before July, for example, they should remodel the bathroom in the house and condition it so that Ana Belén can use it after the operation.

Viviana does all the odd jobs that are within her reach. She has been selling her products every day in the Municipality of Santa Fe for a few months, but also They carry out draws, raffles and put solidarity piggy banks in some businesses in both cities. In addition, they published on social networks the means of payment through which you can collaborate with them and the operation.

The life of Ana Belén, between operations and trips

Ana Belén underwent heart surgery as a child. According to her mother, this brought with it other sequelae such as Parkinson’s. “She can’t work on various things and it’s also difficult to get a job,” Viviana said.

The young woman told TN that he looked for work on several occasions, but it was difficult for him to find it due to his condition. About his third operation, he said that He is afraid. “In the second, the last, I had a heart attack and I didn’t have a good time. Also, I know that this is risky”he added. Despite the fear and pain caused by the current tumor, she maintained that “you have to keep moving,” because if you don’t, his leg can numb or catch a thrombosis.

Regarding the money they need for the operation, Ana Belén clarified that neither her mother nor she have a stable job that generates income, so they have no other option than to ask for the collaboration of other people. “I understand that people are sometimes suspicious, because there are many false causes, but if you have doubts you can contact us and we will show you the medical history”he assured. On the other hand, she indicated that if they collaborate, they give her an opportunity to be with her mother in Buenos Aires and help them guarantee a roof so they don’t have to be on the street.

“We cannot postpone the operation,” warned Ana Belén and asked for everyone’s collaboration, both economically and socially. “Maybe if someone can’t help with money, they can share our posts, spread the word or participate in the raffle, that helps us,” she explained and finished. “If (Santiago) Maratea collected 400 million in days, we can raise something.”