Rina Fitria, an Indonesian native and OSU student, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She has a few more weeks to raise money for a bone marrow transplant, which help her to overcome the disease and give her freedom.
Waking up each morning, Rina Fitria knows her fight against cancer is not over.
Fitria uses every ounce of energy she has to keep a smile on her face throughout the long days. Her positive attitude reflects her refusal to give up. Her dream of eventually receiving her OSU diploma in Management Information Systems never subsides. Yet one problem remains in her way.
Fitria only has a few weeks left to raise money for a bone marrow transplant, a treatment that will give her new hope of continuing on with her journey.
“I have had a lot of disappointments with past treatments and I have never felt closer to a cure than I do now,” Fitria said. “Cancer survivors who have undergone a bone marrow transplant consider the day of their transplant as a ‘second birthday’ because they have been given a new chance to live.
“I hope that with the kindness and generosity of people of the community that I will be able to celebrate a second birthday.”
Fitria, an Indonesian native and a Stillwater resident, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2007 during her sophomore year at OSU. She is 21 years old.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic tissue, which includes the lymph nodes and related organs that are part of the body’s immune and blood forming system, she said.
The disease enlarges the lymphatic tissues because the cells divide rapidly and grow without any order or control, which can cause pressure of nearby organs. In Fitria’s case, she had tumors pressing on three-fourths of her lung.
Fitria has undergone radiation, as well as chemotherapy. Both treatments were successful in making the tumor smaller but not enough to completely rid of it, she wrote in her online diary.
According to the Indonesian Overseas Student Association Web site, the next step in the process is the $180,000 bone marrow transplant, which will enable physicians to treat the disease with aggressive chemotherapy and radiation by allowing the replacement of damaged bone marrow.
Cara Beer, a friend and mentor of Fitria and her mother, said students and people in the community can lend a hand in a number of ways.
“As an international student, Fitria will not receive any financial assistance from any government entity and the family does not have insurance,” Beer said. “People can help by sending e-mails and prayers of support for Rina.”
Janina Graves, an International Students and Scholars assistant, elaborates on how people can assist Rina and her family.
“Individuals can share ideas, help organize fund raising and donate,” Graves said. “Donations can be made directly at http://www.orgs.okstate.edu/iosa/rina.html.”
Fitria said if people would like to donate their time, they can get in contact with individuals who are planning charity events to raise awareness for her transplant.
Louise Regina, an Indonesian OSU student, is arranging an event to raise money for Fitria.
Regina is organizing a benefit concert called ‘Eyes on Me’ for Fitria at the Seretean Center Concert Hall on July 11.
The cost for the concert will be $8 for students and $10 for general admission. All proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the bone marrow transplant funds.
“I am really looking forward to the transplant,” Fitria said. “With the high dose of chemo, it would blast those pesky tumors out of here, as far away from me as possible! With it comes freedom, and I will then be able to have healthy days lasting longer than a week.”
For more information on Fitria’s fight against cancer, visit her online journal at http://fitriajourney.blogspot.com.
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