Visitors book of the patients in the Foundation’s welfare flats.
In each welfare flat of the Foundation there is a visitor's book for patients and their families to leave messages of support for those who will follow them. Some also choose to give thanks or simply detail their thoughts.
MESSAGES
• Message from Francisco José Llambrich, a 33 year old Acute Myeloid Leukaemia patient, from Sant Jaume d’Enveja (Tarragona), who stayed in the flat close to the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona.
Transcript of the message:
"18th of July 2011
Hi, my name is Francisco José Llambrich Gispert, I am 33 years old and I'm from Sant Jaume d'Enveja (Delta de l'Ebre). Two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia M5, I was treated with chemotherapy and later auto transplanted but one year later I relapsed. I was admitted once again to undergo chemotherapy, and luckily they found a compatible donor with me. The transplant took place six months ago and I feel very good.
With a lot of will and the support of my family and friends I have made it. I am thankful to the José Carreras Foundation for letting me stay in this flat during all of this time. Thanks for everything and I hope that the people who may read this never lose faith and have a lot of strength and will to get over this disease. Thanks for everything".
Francisco José Llambrich y Úrsula
• Message from Roser Mundó, a 62 year old Multiple Myeloma patient from Andorra. She stayed in the welfare flat for transplant patients close to Clinic Hospital in Barcelona.
Transcript of the message:
"I am Roser Mundó Vidal. After being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma by Dr. Cobos, I was told that I needed an autologous bone marrow transplant. Following the treatment that took me to the point of receiving the transplant I was referred to the Clinic Hospital, which is regarded as the leading hospital in Barcelona in this type of transplant. I would like to thank my doctor, Dr. Francesc Cobos, Dr. Urbano who was the first to visit me in the hospital, and finally Dr. Marin and Dr. Francesc Fernandez who together with their team of wholly professional nurses have helped me to reach the end of the road with this disease. Thanks also go to the José Carreras Foundation for providing the flat which has allowed me to continue my routine and be with my family. I am very grateful to all the doctors and their teams of nurses who have wonderful professionalism and unforgettable characters. Congratulations everyone!"
Roser
• Message from José Manuel Da Silva, 54 year old Myelodysplastic Syndrome patient from Andorra. Resided in the flat close to Clinic Hospital in Barcelona.
Transcript of the message:
"27th of May 2011. Today we are leaving after being in this flat for 10 months. 10 months of happiness and tears, and feeling just like home. Thank you very much for allowing us to feel so comfortable within these walls which has helped to overcome this difficult period in our lives. I would like to thank the José Carreras Foundation and wish them success in their fight. Thank you to Esther Soto (the welfare flat officer at the Foundation) for all her care and support during this time. I want to give my support to those who follow me in staying here. The journey is tough but the sun always comes out. Lots of love and huge thanks".
José Manuel Da Silva and Esther Carpio
• Message from Mercè and Alexandra, wife and daughter respectively, of Josep Torras. Josep is a 54 year old Hodgkin's Lymphoma patient who stayed in the flat close to the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona
Transcript of the messages:
Message from Josep's wife, Mercè: "The 8th of May 2011. I am Mercè Rossell and I recently I have been the principal carer for my husband, Josep Torras. First and foremost I would like to thank everyone for their support. I want to especially thank the Foundation and Esther, and above all, Dr. Francesc Fernández and his team for giving me the chance to know incredible people, focused people and "good" people.
It is an extraordinary feeling to be treated this way during the middle of such a tough fight against disease. I have always been convinced that we were in the best hands and I leave this flat with my husband after his recovery, completely convinced by my previous thoughts. Thank you to everyone, especially Cristina Gallego, with whom we have had the most contact.
Warmest regards to everyone, you will always be in my heart".
Mercè
Message from Josep's daughter, Alexandra: "The 7th of May 2011. Hello, I am called Alexandra and I am the eldest daughter of Josep and Mercè. I am here because my father is sick, even though he doesn't look it. In fact, if we are here it's because he is getting better. Life has given him another opportunity as he continues his treatment against Hodgkin's Lymphoma. No one said this would be easy; on the contrary, there are many people who do not even have the option of treatment.
The news was hard to take for us all. You feel like all you want to do is cry, as if everything is going against you. However, you have to be strong when a loved one is suffering (in my case, my Dad). Since the first day, he has been the strongest. He has had more optimism than anyone, he has believed in himself and in the team of professionals that have been impeccable in every aspect, it is for these reasons that we are leaving soon.
Throughout it all my mother has been a tower of strength. She has fibromyalgia and has dedicated all her time and effort to care for my Dad and be by his side, whilst at no moment neglecting her two children.
I cannot express the pride I feel for the family I have; I cannot find a single fault with any one of them. I am proud to be the daughter of two people who have faced difficulties in life; sadly more frequent all the time. Mum, Dad, stay strong! I hope that we will all be together at home soon. You are the people I love the most in this world.
I give huge thanks to the nurses that are always there. I do not have the pleasure of knowing them personally but every day I hear about them. Thank you to everyone at the José Carreras Foundation and to the grandma who donated this flat, which has been really comfortable and has provided a roof for my family".
Alexandra
• Message from Pilar, a 46 year old Acute Myeloid Leukaemia patient. She stayed in the José Carreras Foundation's flat close to the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona in April 2011.
Transcript of the message:
Message from Pilar's daughter Judit: "I am Judit, I 10 years old and my mother has leukaemia. I am really grateful for the friendliness of the nurses and the comfort of this flat. It has been great to be here for three weeks to be able to be close to my Mum. It was just like being at home, but if anything happened we would be very close to the hospital. Thanks to the José Carreras Foundation and to Concepció Llauradó".
Message from Pilar: "Thank you so much to the Foundation, to Dr. Francesc Fernández and the nurses; Cristina (from Seville), Cristina (from Barcelona), Adela, and Susana for their priceless dedication. It has been a luxury to be here, Thank you very much".
Pilar Rocafull
• Message from Manuel, a 65 year old Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patient. He stayed in the Foundation's flat close to Germans Trias I Pujol Hospital in Badalona in February and March 2011.
Transcript of the message:
"8th of March 2011. After one month and 6 days we are going home. We want to thank all the team at the José Carreras Foundation. We are so grateful for all the support and facilities that we have received to help fight this disease. When you find yourself in a situation like this you realize that there are lots of people that help you to get through this "nightmare".
Thank you so much to everyone and I send my regards to all the families who are going through the same".
Family of Manuel Márquez Márquez. Sant Feliu de Guíxols (Girona)
• Message from Francisco Liébana, a 58 year old Multiple Myeloma patient. He stayed in the F0undation's flat close to the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona in March 2011.
Transcript of the message:
"I am a Multiple Myeloma and I have undergone autologous bone marrow transplant. Dr. Fernández explained me the possibilities for recuperating in the welfare flat and I am really satisfied with everything. I am grateful to the Clinic Hospital for the professionals they have, in particular Cristina, Susana, Albert and Adela (the nurses in the flats for transplant patients), who have been wonderful".
Thank you from all the Liébana family.
• Message from Joan Vilardaga, a 63 year old Multiple Myeloma patient who stayed in the Foundation's flat close to the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Badalona in December 2010.
Transcript of the message:
"Barcelona, 29th of December 2010"
The Vilardaga Santaeularia family want to deeply thank the José Carreras Foundation for the treatment we have received from all the Foundation's members throughout our time spent in hospital.
In such hard moments for a family, it is wonderful that the Foundation recognizes the difficulties and helps with the provision of a flat. To all the contributors to the Foundation, Thank you!
We send our warmest regards to the future occupants of this flat and we encourage them to stay strong. We have to keep fighting against this disease!"
• Message from Víctor Escribano and his wife, Lidia. Victor is a 55 year old Lymphoma patient who stayed in the Foundation's flat close to the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona.
Víctor, during his stay in the welfare flat.
Transcript of the message:
"No pierdas la esperanza, consérvala, te devolverá a tu hogar".
We want to express our deepest gratitude for the Carreras Foundation for allowing us to stay in this flat on Villarroel street.
Thanks to its proximity to the Clinic Hospital, to the professionalism of the medical team, to the nurses that attended my husband every day with such energy that never stopped inspiring us, today, we are GOING HOME!
God bless you".
The Escribano-García family. 30th of August 2010.
Read Víctor's story (spanish)
• Message from Marta González, a 20 year old Asturian patient who stayed in the Foundation's flat from March 2010.
Transcript of the messages:
"In November 2009, I was diagnosed with a rare disease called MNGIE Syndrome (myoneurogastrointestinal encephalopathy syndrome). The only treatment is a bone marrow transplant, which I received in April 2010 in Vall d´Hebron Hospital in Barcelona.
I am an Asturian girl and I am immensely grateful to the José Carreras Foundation for allowing me and my mum to stay in a flat in Barcelona. This support has helped us so much during our time here".
Marta
"As Marta's mother, I am so grateful for finding a donor for my daughter in record time and without your support it wouldn't have been possible".
Manuela
• Message from Jordi Garriga, a 53 year old Acute Myeloid Leukaemia patient who stayed in the Foundation's flat close to Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona from February 2010.
Transcript of the message:
"Thanks for being by our side during such a difficult moment in our lives. We haven't been alone because you have always been with us, supporting and supporting. The work you do is priceless".
Jordi Garriga and Pilar Achiaga
• Message from Ana Rodríguez Moreno, a 56 year old Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia patient who stayed in the Foundation's flat close to Germans Trias i Pujol in Badalona from September 2010.
Transcript of the message:
"Barcelona, 4th of October 2010. Our sincerest thanks to the José Carreras Foundation for allowing the family of Ana Rodríguez Moreno throughout this period of recuperation from a haematopoietic stem cell transplant. Above all thank you for their hard work and dedication to the patients of leukaemia. Keep going, be strong, and have faith and hope that your dreams will come true. Thank you".
Ana Rodríguez Moreno
Read Ana's story
• Message from Mª Carme Godayol, a 51 year old Hodgkin's Lymphoma patient who stayed in the Foundation's flat close to the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona.
Transcript of the message:
"The 28th of September 2010, Mª Carme Godayol Subirana, born in Roda de Ter on the 15th of May 1959 and currently receiving treatment in the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona where I will undergo a bone marrow transplant after 2 years of fighting against Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
The 29th of September, the day of the general strike, Dr. Francesc Fernández came to visit her on the haematology ward where she was placed. That day the doctor had given permission to leave because the treatment wouldn't start until the following day. Both I (her sister Roser) and her husband Josep Lluís accompanied her.
The doctor explained how the transplant and subsequent home recuperation would work. From that moment we realized the advantages that this form of treatment would present: to be out of the discomfort of the hospital and far from pathogens or the virus' that exist in all hospital that are resistant to the antibiotics, and the benefit of having a team of carers who are charged with looking after the patient. However, because Mª Carme lived in Vic, the home recuperation was not a feasible option.
Facing the situation that we did, the doctor explained to us the option of a flat provided by the Carreras Foundation close to the hospital. The confidence of Dr. Francesc Fernández inspired us from the first moment and the fact that it was so close to the hospital in the event of any complication of the need to make a blood/platelet transfusion, made the decision easy for us. We want to express our profound gratitude to José Carreras Foundation because without their support with this flat none of this would have been possible. We want to congratulate all the team, medical and those at the Foundation, because with their support many families just like our have been able to recuperate in the most comfortable and humane way possible way. This method of treatment is much less traumatic for both the patient and the care team, than in a hospital room.
We will always remember this gesture and the excellent treatment that we received; from Dr. Fernández to the nursing team of Cristina Gallego, Cristina Moreno, Susana and Adela. They have all helped us through every moment.
Finally, I want to send a message of support to all those families who follow us in staying here: never lose hope! The climb is hard but if you are positive, perseverant, and put yourselves completely in the hands of such a wonderful medical team, then you will reach the summit.
Thank you everyone.
Mª Carme, Roser and Josep Lluís (21st of October 2010)
• Message from Ángel Navarro Yagüe, a 60 year old Waldström's Macroglobulinemia patient who stayed in the Foundation's flat close to the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona.
Transcript of the message:
"I am a Waldström's Macroglobulinemia patient who has undergone an autologous stem cell transplant.
When Dr. Fernández Avilés told me of the possibility of recovering from the transplant at home the fact that our house was over an hour away from the hospital made that option impossible from my own home. However, the doctor also told me about the possibility of staying in one of the flats of the José Carreras Foundation in Villarroel street in Barcelona.
After receiving all the treatment in hospital, on the 11th of November I was given the all clear to continue my recuperation in the Carreras Foundation's flat. It has been great to have my family by my side and enjoy more freedom which has helped to contribute towards a faster and more pleasant recovery.
Obviously the whole process has been monitored wonderfully by Dr. Fernández Avilés and his team of excellent nurses (Cristina, Adela, Susana and Albert). They have provided a very human touch and have been incredibly professional. There is nothing more to say apart from a huge thank you to the Carreras Foundation for allowing us to stay in this flat with all its comforts and facilities to enjoy an easy life in during a difficult time.
Thank you so much".
Ángel Navarro Yagüe
21st November 2010
