American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition partners with Hawaiian Airlines to provide assistance to cancer patient.

The American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition, a non profit local organization dedicated to the welfare of patients diagnosed with cancer, recently partnered with Hawaiian Airlines to provide travel assistance to a patient recently diagnosed with cancer. An airline ticket was donated by Hawaiian Airlines during the ASCCC’s 2008 Mardi Gras Event. The winner of the Mardi Gras Event, Mr. Brett Butler, gifted the ticket back to provide assistance for any cancer patient that needed travel off island.

The patient who became the eventual recipient of the generosity of Mr. Butler, Hawaiian Airlines and the ASCCC was identified by Mrs. Luana Scanlan, Program Director of the American Samoan Community Cancer Network, and referred to the ASCCC. With the help of Mr. Ryan Anoa’i and the team at Hawaiian Airlines, the Cancer Coalition provided a roundtrip ticket from Pago Pago to Honolulu, Hawaii.

The ability to travel off island for healthcare not otherwise available in American Samoa will have a huge impact on the patient’s ability to receive treatment specifically catered to curing the patient’s cancerous condition.  Further help from the ASCCC came in the way of navigating the patient through the maze of appointments, doctor’s visits, hospitals and financial assistance in California, where the patient has gone to seek further treatment.  As a direct result, the patient was seen by a doctor that same week of arrival.

According to ASCCC Board Chairman, Jennifer Tofaeono, “We are in contact with the patient, who is continuing to receive specialized care in California. The patient has expressed sincere and deep appreciation for the assistance from the Cancer Coalition, as well as Mr. Brett Butler, Mr. Ryan Anoa’i, Hawaiian Airlines, Mrs. Luana Scanlan, and the ASCCN.

The American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition would like to send a special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Brett Butler, Mr. Ryan Anoa’i and the Hawaiian Air Team for their generosity, and continuous support of the Cancer Coalition Efforts. It is through these partnerships within the community that the Cancer Coalition is able to help the people of American Samoa fight Cancer.