Report by Ben LARYEA
Michael De-Graft Memorial Foundation (MDMF), a Christian organization, spearheading the spiritual awareness of Christ’s love and redemptive power across the country have embarked on education to sensitize the public on the existence of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer.
Signs and symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma includes painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats, losing weight, severe itching, pain in the lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
The foundation provides timely interventions to cancer patients and connecting them to critical support aimed at improving survival rates and secure the future of many young people in Ghana.
An interview with the media
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s germ-fighting immune system as white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control, causing swollen lymph nodes and grow throughout the body.
It is against this background that MDMF have created awareness about Hodgkin Lymphoma and educate the public on prevention and treatment methods of young people battling the disease.
In an interview, the Founder of Michael De-Graft Memorial Foundation (MDMF), Madam Joan Yarboi disclosed that, the main aim of Michael De-Graft Memorial Foundation is to create an awareness about the existence of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma type of cancer disease that affects the youth at the age between 15 to 30 years.
She said that in 2017, her son was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma type of cancer which they did not know anything about saying “through research, the family realized that it affects youth from 15 to 30 and after a long treatment in the country and outside, they gave up”.
Madam Joan revealed that, at the initial stage, Doctors thought it was malaria and were treated her son with malaria and other medications which took them a longer time before he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer.
According to her, at Korle-Bu and 37 hospital, there are a lot of the youth who have been diagnosed with the disease of which some have lost their lives.
She recounted her son’s sickness and explained that he was experiencing itching, rashes, coughing and was treated with TB medications since he was losing weight drastically and sweats at night profusely.
Madam Yarboi disclosed further that, Michael De-Graft Memorial Foundation support children with the disease whose parents are financially handicap and appealed to government, NGOs, and individuals to join hands with them to support children with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer since its treatment comes at a huge cost as the grand launch will take place on 30th May, 2022 at the Parma Hotel off Spintex Road.
Michael died with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer type at the age of 19 when he was a level 300 student at the UPSA. Meanwhile, the foundation have taken upon themselves to go to the various schools to educate students and to create awareness about the disease likewise, spreading the message of Jesus Christ’s love to everyone especially, children which is a wish from Michael De-Graft before he died. The late Michael De-Graft on whose behalf the foundation was formed, happens to be the only child of Madam Joan Yarboi.
The last message from the late Mr. Michael De-Graft before passing on stated, “I’m eternally grateful to Jesus Christ for the great and mighty things he has done in my life. He comforted me when I had nobody. He healed my diseases and made me a new being. Jesus is always ready and willing to be there for any of us, all we have to do is open up and call unto Him and He will answer us and deliver us from our problems. My newly discovered walk with Jesus has been amazing so far and I hope a lot more of you will join me on this path”
