A 21-year-old Filipina student lost a four-year battle with cancer, even after undergoing advanced medical treatment and a bone marrow transplant in 2013.
Sarah Jean Masinas succumbed to the disease – a rare type of blood cancer – on Feb. 3, her mother Rosalie told UAE news site Gulf News.
“We had been hoping to get another procedure but her condition worsened last Thursday [Jan. 30]. And although she appeared to be slightly better on Sunday [Feb. 2] she developed breathing difficulties [Feb. 3] morning and passed away,” said Masinas.
Mrs. Masinas had tried to raise funds for Sarah Jean's treatment. She got support from residents and organizations including Gulf News.
Now that Sarah Jean is gone, she said she and her husband were to bring their daughter's remains home to the Philippines early Wednesday [Feb. 12].
Sarah Jean's death took many by surprise.
“We thought she would at least be here with us for a few more weeks,” said Zeina Naim, a Dubai-based psychologist who said Sarah Jane had been a cheerful presence and a comfort to those around her.
Naim said Sarah Jean "would go up to other patients in the hospital, hold their hands and tell them everything would be OK. Her passing is a true loss for everyone who knew her.”
While she was studying in Manila, Sarah Jean was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
At the time, her parents then working in Abu Dhabi brought her to the UAE for treatment at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City.
Last year, oncologists recommended Sarah Jean undergo a bone marrow transplant in Sweden.
“For more than a month after the transplant we thought that the surgery had been successful and the cancer was in remission. But it soon came back and there were no real courses of treatment left for her,” Mrs. Masinas said.
Sarah Jean Masinas succumbed to the disease – a rare type of blood cancer – on Feb. 3, her mother Rosalie told UAE news site Gulf News.
“We had been hoping to get another procedure but her condition worsened last Thursday [Jan. 30]. And although she appeared to be slightly better on Sunday [Feb. 2] she developed breathing difficulties [Feb. 3] morning and passed away,” said Masinas.
Mrs. Masinas had tried to raise funds for Sarah Jean's treatment. She got support from residents and organizations including Gulf News.
Now that Sarah Jean is gone, she said she and her husband were to bring their daughter's remains home to the Philippines early Wednesday [Feb. 12].
Sarah Jean's death took many by surprise.
“We thought she would at least be here with us for a few more weeks,” said Zeina Naim, a Dubai-based psychologist who said Sarah Jane had been a cheerful presence and a comfort to those around her.
Naim said Sarah Jean "would go up to other patients in the hospital, hold their hands and tell them everything would be OK. Her passing is a true loss for everyone who knew her.”
While she was studying in Manila, Sarah Jean was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
At the time, her parents then working in Abu Dhabi brought her to the UAE for treatment at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City.
Last year, oncologists recommended Sarah Jean undergo a bone marrow transplant in Sweden.
“For more than a month after the transplant we thought that the surgery had been successful and the cancer was in remission. But it soon came back and there were no real courses of treatment left for her,” Mrs. Masinas said.
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