Parish, Cameroon woman struggle to pay for meds Church seeks help to pay for anti-rejection drugs after transplant BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer METUCHEN — With 2007 just around the corner, many ordinary wish lists include losing five pounds or taking care of unpaid bills. But for First Presbyterian Church parish member and Middlesex County College student Iya Bekondo, 24, her wish for the year is simply to lead a normal and healthy life. “I was initially diagnosed with focal glomerulosis when I was 8, when I was in Cameroon,” Bekondo said. “My kidneys were always small, and they did not grow to their normal size. By 16, my condition got worse, and I became very sick, which is why I came here in 2000 on a medical visa. At that point, I began having kidney failure.” Last year Bekondo received a kidney from her mother, Rose, in a transplant procedure performed free of charge by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where Iya’s sister currently works as a nurse. However, Bekondo has used up nearly the last of her anti-rejection medication. She came to the U.S. on a medical visa and so does not qualify for assistance from the government. Her mother has a green card and is currently awaiting word on her application for citizenship, but Iya Bekonda must wait until that is completed before she can apply for legal resident status. “Without a Social Security number, Iya is not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid,” said the Rev. Douglas Grote, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Metuchen, which has been helping her raise funds for her treatment. “But even if I was legally allowed to work, one of my friends reminded me that I am not a professional and that I could not make enough to cover $3,000 worth of medication a month,” Iya Bekondo said. “I thought about it, and I realized it is not something that I could do myself.” That was when Middlesex County College community service organization Democracy House stepped in to help. “At that point, in 2004, Iya talked with our director,” said DH coordinator Kevin McGowan. “She had worked with us as a literacy tutor at Amandla Crossing in Edison, and we realized that one of our own students who was providing a crucial service in our community needed help herself.” DH members, together with parish members at First Presbyterian Church, raised approximately $30,000 in one year for Iya Bekondo’s post-surgery treatment, between the spring of 2004 and 2005. “Once the money was raised, Iya was able to schedule her transplant surgery,” said church treasurer Sue Harmon. However, given the high cost of anti-rejection medication, those funds were depleted within eight months. “Once the original $30,000 ran dry in July, parish members have been clear, saying that Iya is one of our members, and the deacons have come up with $7,000 since then,” said Pastor Grote. But Iya now only has funds to cover the cost of medication for the next month to a month-and-a-half, and it will likely be one more year before she can complete the process for permanent residence and qualify for coverage through Medicare/Medicaid. Grote said that he didn’t give helping Iya Bekondo a second thought. “Iya is a very sweet person and very easy to help, just because of her own nature,” he said. “She is very smart and accomplished, though too reticent to ask for help. I was asking her all spring how things were going with the money, but I didn’t know things were that bad until the money was running out. Also, the drugs she needs to stay alive are not available in Cameroon, so her life would be in jeopardy if she were to go back.” Currently, Iya Bekondo is taking classes at Middlesex County College. Her goal is to become a nurse one day and make her life in the U.S. “Ever since I was young, I had to go to the hospital all the time,” she said. “At first I wanted to become a doctor, since I would be around doctors all the time. I like the medical field, and I want to help people, too, and give back. That is why I started thinking about medicine.” “I would also like to live in the U.S. because you’re free here,” she said. “And here, there are a lot of opportunities to achieve what you want and be what you want to be.” Iya Bekondo said that she could not believe the level of response she has received from so many complete strangers. “All this attention has been shocking, with all these people helping me without looking back, just wanting to help someone they don’t even know,” she said. “I want to thank everybody.” To make a donation on behalf of Iya Bekondo, please send a check to the First Presbyterian Church, 270 Woodbridge Avenue, P.O. Box 385, Metuchen 08840, and write “Iya’s Fund” on the memo line.