Meet Warren, Tatiana and their family…
A grateful patient and major donor shares his journey to the NIH.
We are a family originally from Costa Rica. My wife Tatiana and I are blessed to be parents to two children: Rebeca, 31, a professional nutritionist, and Alejandro, 22, who is currently studying Electronic Engineering. My illness, colon cancer, was confirmed in July 2023, and we immediately began treatment at the Metropolitan Hospital of Costa Rica, under the leadership of Dr. Andrés Wiernik, one of the country’s most renowned oncologists.
Dr. Wiernik was aware of the research the NIH was developing for the type of cancer I had. It was he who took the initiative to contact Dr. Hernández at NIH and manage my entry into the specialized program. Thanks to that connection, we learned about this valuable institution.
We traveled to Washington D.C. in June 2024 to begin treatment. We started with surgery, followed by a chemotherapy process that lasted ten months, and concluded with an ablation, in addition to a series of subsequent examinations and evaluations. Thanks to God and the extraordinary NIH team, the treatment was a resounding success. The doctors informed me that my body was free of the disease, and I am currently in remission here in Costa Rica.
The care received at the NIH has been simply exceptional. All the staff—doctors, nurses, assistants, administrators—not only demonstrated great professionalism and medical knowledge but also incredible human warmth. They made us feel welcomed, confident, and safe at every stage of the process. We will always carry them in our hearts.
We learned about Friends at NIH thanks to the comfort cart visits they used to make on Fridays. On several occasions, a lady from the team approached us to deliver carefully prepared gifts, which we received with great affection. These small gestures arrived during moments of uncertainty and pain, and for us, they were a symbol of hope and companionship. Later, we received a card that allowed us to learn more about the organization, and we were also referred by the NIH administrative staff, which helped us understand their mission even further.
We decided to make a small donation to Friends at NIH as a token of gratitude for the incredibly human work they do. We wanted to contribute a little something to support other patients and families going through similar processes. It fills us with joy to be able to collaborate with such a significant organization, which offers relief, companionship, and care in moments when it is most needed. We deeply identify with your cause, and we feel honored to be able to contribute in some way to the well-being of other patients who, like us, have found real hope at the NIH.
Final Message of Gratitude
On behalf of myself and my entire family, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the NIH Hospital. They not only helped us overcome a critical health situation but did so with treatment full of professionalism, humanity, and commitment. We also thank God for allowing institutions like the NIH to exist, dedicated to saving lives and advancing research to prevent future diseases. And, of course, we extend our sincere thanks to Friends at NIH, whose humanitarian work has left an indelible mark on our lives. May God bless you for providing that much-needed care and affection in the most difficult times.
*Friends at NIH wants to thank Warren and his family for their generous donation of furniture including two bedroom sets, couch, kitchen table/chairs, kitchen utensils, small appliances and dishes. Their “token” of gratitude is greatly appreciated and currently being enjoyed by patients throughout our 5 patient apartments.
