Sopa Jaechumla

Pravet is a village of less than 900 people outside of Bangkok, Thailand, where Sopa Jaechumla, a 42-year-old woman, cares for her paralyzed mother and father. When Sopa learned she had chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in 2007, she was terrified and sad.

Her diagnosis changed her life dramatically. Sopa had a small business making and selling food. Because of her cancer, she had to sleep and rest often. Sopa could no longer work; she had no income. Caring for her parents quickly became a real struggle, both physically and economically. She could not afford treatment. Exactly one month after the CML diagnosis Sopa entered GIPAP™ from Novartis Oncology and started treatment.

After 3 months, her physician told Sopa that her blood counts were almost normal. Within just 6 months, she was in remission and was able to begin working again. GIPAP changed her life by allowing her to live normally again.

Sopa chooses not to dream of the future because she believes in living in the present. Anything that she can do for others, she will. Sopa is also deeply inspired by her parents. Her priority continues to be caring for her parents and herself for years to come.