With the help of the Marie Louise Cancer Foundation, Darlene Dorinvil, of Lantana, got treatment for breast cancer at the University of Miami quicker than the treatment she scheduled on her own, which was two months away. She also received financial help from the foundation to pay some bills.
The foundation started in 2006 by Marie Seide after her mother Marie Louise Cenatus died from breast cancer in 2005. Its goal is to reach Haitian women at the beginning of their cancer journey when they are diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer so treatment can be more successful, Seide said.
Although they primarily focus on Haitian women, the foundation helps all women, educating them about breast cancer and getting them mammograms, navigating them through the process of getting treatments, making sure they get free mammograms if they qualify and getting them financial assistance, transportation and translators, she said.
“We’re here for every woman who needs help going through cancer. We help Caucasians, Hispanics. You don’t need to be Haitian. If you are a woman and have breast cancer, we are here for you and we become your extended family,” Seide said.
She said many women in the Haitian community don’t get mammograms, and if they do and they are diagnosed with breast cancer, many don’t follow through with treatment.
“Instead of working with a doctor, they will work with voodoo priests or ministers because of their culture. Some will be at the hospital waiting for surgery and disappear,” Seide said.
That’s why she goes into the Haitian community, through churches or businesses, to educate them.
Seide has two radio shows in Creole, WHSR-980 AM in Boca Raton and WPBR-1340 AM in Lantana. Doctors and nurses are available on the shows to educate the community, she said.
The foundation recently had its breast cancer walk and health fair at Intracoastal Park in Boynton Beach. They provided care for over 500 people, with a goal to raise about $25,000. The funds will go toward paying for breast cancer treatments, financial assistance for women with breast cancer and helping with housing, utilities, transportation and food, she said.
One of the foundation’s volunteers who helped organize the walk, Ruth Ambroise, a licensed clinical social worker, said all volunteers are welcome. She helps the foundation apply for grants and anything else it needs, she said.
“I think she is doing a phenomenal job with the foundation as far as reaching low-income folks, not only the predominately Haitian population, but anyone is welcome. She does an awesome job educating the community about the importance of getting health checkups and following up when getting a diagnosis. She goes above and beyond.”
The foundation is also looking for donations. Every year, the organization gets a grant from Susan G. Komen, but it didn’t receive one this year, Seide said.
“We hope the community will help us out. We definitely need help,” she said.
Visit mlcancerfoundation.org.
