Adult film star Lea DeMae is fighting a rare form of brain cancer in a hospital in Prague, and her agency, Dream Entertainment, has asked the U.S. industry for help.
Oldrich Widman, who has represented DeMae during her six-year Adult video and modeling career, told AVN.com Monday that her illness cannot be cured in the Czech Republic. In order for her to get the proper treatment, she must go as soon as possible to Germany or Sweden for surgery.
Widman said that DeMae's family cannot afford to finance the treatment, which will cost approximately $150,000 in U.S. dollars, so Widman's agency has decided to organize a collection on DeMae’s behalf.
"Please help make one miracle happen," pleaded Widman in a statement. "We will [welcome] any amount whatsoever, and to those who will help we shall be greatly indebted."
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Widman has been working closely with DeMae's sister, Lucie, on the request. DeMae has begun chemotherapy, but her doctor said her condition is not improving, Widman said.
"Her sister is negotiating with one clinic in Munich, which is a big center for cancer treatment right now," he told AVN.com. "We were talking to [physicians in] Boston, but unfortunately we got the answer last week that they stopped performing the treatment she needs because [the hospital] is short of money."
Because of that, the family is now focused on having DeMae treated somewhere in Europe.
"We are very good friends,” continued Widman. “I was representing her before, when she was doing modeling. I'm seeing her [at the hospital] every third day. I saw her two days ago."
A native of Prague, DeMae has been performing for the past five years. The former AVN Foreign Female Performer of the Year nominee landed the cover and centerfold of the October issue of Hustler.
She was diagnosed with the illness in late July.
"I think she's got a big support from her sister and mother, and her boyfriend asked her to marry him, so she's trying to keep running," Widman said. "She's engaged now, so that's more reasons why to keep going.
"The big help for her is that she still believes she will be recovering. She is just praying for having a baby."
Widman said the information he is getting from doctors in Munich is that "there is a chance it's curable."
"But it depends on her immunity," he said.
Widman made DeMae's status public during the recent Erotic Film Festival in Barcelona. He also e-mailed his contacts in Europe in an effort to generate some assistance.
"Thank you to all the people in the business. We should stick a little closer together," Widman said. "I'm going to do as much as I can on my side and try to get her the best treatment she can get. She deserves it."
Any one wishing to contribute to DeMae's fund to assist with her medical expenses should email [email protected]
