VIEWPOINT on The News at Five with Doug Weathers

WTOC 11
The Southeast News Leader
Savannah, GA
July 13, 1998 (5:23 pm)

DW: Our guest today is Maxine Pinson. Maxine Pinson is like a lot of mothers. She's here now trying to help her daughter who has a very special need. Mrs. Pinson, why don't you tell us what has happened with your daughter and why she has this very special need.

MP: Doug, my daughter, Celia Pinson Iskandar, was diagnosed, over two years ago, with a very rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, mycosis fungoides. It took about six months to make the diagnosis. She is now at the stage where a bone marrow transplant, costing $302,000, is her only hope for survival. This has been scheduled for next week.

DW: I understand that your daughter is married to an architect on Hilton Head Island and that they simply do not have the $302,000. Were you able to work something out? The money was to be upfront to begin with.

MP: Yes, I made a trip to Houston to the M. D. Anderson Cancer Clinic which is the only place where this particular procedure can be performed. As for as we know, its never been performed anywhere before. They did initially want the $302,000 upfront, but arrangements have been made to stretch the payments out over a period of time.

DW: You've had some help by the organization called Help Save One of Our Own who has brought you in under their umbrella. We have an address here that were going to show on the screen. Now, I want you to look at this very carefully because they do need any and all help they can possibly get for this bone marrow transplant. Here's another part of it. If there's any money left over, its going to go right back into the fund.

MP: That's correct.

DW: So, now, tell them where they can send it.

MP: Checks may be made payable to Help Save One of Our Own, f/b/o Celia Pinson Iskandar, Interstate/Johnson Lane--200 Meeting St.--Charleston, SC 21401. This is a tax-deductible contribution. And, again, any funds left over will be used for anyone else with mycosis fungoides in need of a bone marrow transplant. I might mention that this is not a hereditary disease or something one anticipates. It can strike anyone without warning.

DW: Well, it's a strange thing because you worked for several years helping other folks. Tell us a little about that.

MP: I served as publisher/editor of Savannah Parent magazine, from 1990-1995. I expanded to Low Country Parent the latter part of that time. Because of health problems, within our family, I was no longer able to continue with my publication. Now I would like help with my child.

DW: You said that you ran similar stories to this when you were publishing Savannah Parent magazine at the request of other mothers.

MP: Yes, never anticipating that one day I'd be asking for the same kind of help with my own child.

DW: Mrs. Pinson, we all wish you the best of luck. You have a lovely daughter, and were just sorry that you're facing this.

MP: Thank you, Doug.

DW: Hopefully, our audience will be able to help. If they need that address again, they may call us here at the station and we'll be happy to give it to them. Thank you very much.

MP: Thank you, Doug. I appreciate it.

Printed with permission.