A petition to enable a Queenstown girl to access potentially life-saving treatment’s been presented to Parliament.
Mountain Scene last week revealed despite 12-year-old Meila Davis being recommended EnGeneIC Dream Vector (EDV), an experimental treatment, she’s been denied access to it by Health New Zealand — Te Whatu Ora, which hasn’t permitted its use in a public setting.
Meila was diagnosed with terminal osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, last June — subsequent treatment in Christchurch wasn’t successful, and she’s now started oral chemotherapy, which is working, for now.
Her family’s been fighting to enable Meila to access EDV — she’s unable to have it administered privately because there aren’t any paediatric oncologists operating in private, nor are there any adult oncologists prepared to administer it due to her age.
Taking matters into her own hands, Meila’s mum, Kristin, started the petition on Sunday, pleading with the government to reconsider that position.
The petition notes EDV is her last chance.
“Without the drug, Meila’s life will end.
“With the drug, her life will be extended, and her cancer may be cured.”
Almost 3000 people had signed it by yesterday afternoon.
The petition was presented to Act leader David Seymour and Act’s health spokesman, Queenstown’s Todd Stephenson, by Meila’s grandmother, Sandy Gibbons, in Wellington on Tuesday.
Stephenson tells Scene he’s been aware of Meila’s case for some time ‘‘and have been doing what I can to assist the family’’.
‘‘I have now referred the petition to Parliament’s Petitions Committee, which reviews petitions and can make recommendations on any law or policy changes it wishes to see, or actions it believes the government should take.
‘‘We have also ensured the Minister of Health is aware of Meila’s situation and are hopeful that a commonsense solution can be found.
‘‘I remain interested in how this progresses and will assist as I can,’’ Stephenson says.
Gibbons says Seymour and Stephenson were ‘‘amazing’’ when she handed the petition over, and ‘‘really seemed to care about how Meila was doing’’.
Given Meila’s not the only child who could benefit from EDV, she’s hoping the petition can be ‘‘a voice for other children suffering’’.
‘‘What I don’t understand is why [Te Whatu Ora] are letting kids go through chemotherapy, which is 40 years old, targeting every cell in their body — including healthy cells — and making them suffer.
‘‘Every time Meila goes through it, Kristin has to sign a piece of paper saying this could potentially kill her.’’
Te Whatu Ora has been approached for comment, but couldn’t respond by deadline.
Meantime, Kristin’s also set up a Givealittle page to help finance Meila’s ongoing treatment costs — to donate, visit shorturl.at/Faju7
To sign the petition, visit shorturl.at/9Cweh
