FOUR-YEAR-OLD “little angel” Pavlos Kleovolou is set to depart for Boston, USA, next month to receive the life saving medical treatment his family has so desperately been trying to raise money for since January.
“We still have a long way to go though,” said a member of the Kleovolou family support group Andri Tsavella, referring to the amount of money that is needed. More events are coming up in the coming weeks as part of the ‘Save Pavlos’ campaign, which aims to collect enough money to support Pavlos’ expensive year-long stay at the Boston Children’s Hospital.
In his short life Pavlos has been burdened with a series of medical problems, mainly gastrological in nature, which to date have yet to be definitively diagnosed by doctors in Cyprus, Glasgow, London or Israel.
Born prematurely in 2005, he developed intolerance to food which led to vomiting at the age of 2.5 months. The condition worsened, leaving him unable to eat or drink, and since then he has been shuffled between hospitals abroad, undergoing two operations and multiple treatments which have brought further problems plus side effects of osteoporosis and possible septicemia due to infection.
Whilst at a hospital in Israel, the doctors, who again were unable to help him, suggested he be taken to the highly specialised Boston Children’s Hospital in the USA.
Pavlos family refers to the Boston hospital as “the only hope for Pavlos’ life”, but the government will not be funding this trip.
“The Health Ministry has been very supportive thus far, covering parts or all of the costs of his medical treatment abroad,” said Tsavella. “But they want to send him back to England again to carry out the same procedures and this is not what the family think is best for Pavlos.”
The exact cost and duration of the four-year-old’s stay at the hospital will be announced to his parents, Lambros and Gianna Kleovolou, after the initial tests are carried out following his arrival at the hospital on August 16. However, it is estimated as much as €1 million could be required to cover transportation, accommodation, diagnosis and therapy.
Following the success of the “demonstration of love” held at the beginning of the month at the Dali elementary school by Pavlos’ support group, a similar event is being organised on July 23 at the Paphos Castle square.
Like the last event, which managed to collect over €7000, there will plenty of music, a bazaar, and fun filled activities for children from 7.30p.m onwards.
Other events coming up which are raising money for Pavlos include the ‘In White’ party on July 14 at ‘Tsimbimata’ in Nicosia. The music, food and drink event is being hosted by the actress Danae Christou and the entrance fee of €30 collected by the white clothed guests will be donated to the Kleovolou family.
Other schemes to raise money include restaurant chain Potato Jacks initiative to donate 50 per cent of the daily earnings they will collect on July 15 to the cause. On July 23 the annual champions ball organised by the fan association of Omonia Larnaca-Famagusta will also offer part of the night’s earnings to the ‘Save Pavlos’ campaign.
For more information about Pavlos, the upcoming events, and details on making donations of any amount, visit www.savepavlos.net. Anyone wishing to get involved and organise an event can contact members of the family support group Antonia (99796495) or Antri (99448899).
