Save Ruth!
Donation protected
My name is Ruth, I am 34 years old with two beautiful daughters and a supportive husband. My situation is very difficult for me because I did not ask for this to happen. Because of someone else's negligence I am being forced to face a fatal situation. Due to this being unexpected I am not prepared financially to visit the physicians in California to help save my life.
I decided to share my story because I am asking for your help to make it possible for me and my family to travel to California so I can proceed with the surgery that will save my life. Anything you can donate, will be extremely appreciated it!
Here is RUTH STORY:
On February 2, 2005 I gave birth to a beautiful 2.2lbs premature baby girl name Briana Hope Rivera. Despite of the complications I experience during pregnancy, I was full of joy knowing that she was born healthy.
A few days after being discharge I began to feel a lot of pain on my lower back and legs. I began to think it was due to my c-section. I ignored it for a few days but I began to feel worst. I decided to go back to the hospital. After running a few test I received the awful news that I had develop DVT (blood clots) on my right leg. The physicians assured me that with the proper medications I would be fine. My physician then started me on a medication call Heparin (blood thinners).
I was treated at the hospital for about two weeks before I was discharge. Shortly hours after being discharge I began to feel shortness of breath and excruciating pain. I was then rushed back to the emergency room. Upon arrival the physicians began ordering a few exams to determine why I was in pain and short of breath. Once again, I received the devastating news that I had developed more blood clots and a pulmonary embolism. I was afraid for my life!
My physician immediately suggested to insert a IVC Filter to avoid any more blood clots from traveling to my lungs, brain and heart. Without any hesitation, I agreed to go on with the procedure because I was not ready to lose my life.
On February 25, 2005, I had an IVC Filter inserted in my vena cava vein to prevent any more complications. Although the procedure did not remove the blood clots in my legs it did lower the risk of any harmful doing. After a few weeks of recovery I was allowed to finally go home with my family.
I thought this was the end of my scare. I was absolutely wrong! A few years later after I had the IVC Filter inserted I began to feel uncomfortable pain on my left side of my abdomen. I was treated many times at the hospital and they could not quite find what was the problem. I could not understand why I was in so much pain I consulted my primary physician several times and all he can conclude was that it can be a muscle pain, due to being slightly overweight or it was just mental. I began to think to myself if this can really be true. I went on a strict diet thinking the pain was because I was a little over weight. I stop working out thinking that it might be a muscle pain. Neither worked and the pain continued. I then began to feel very stressed out not knowing the cause of my pain.
In March 2015, I decided I wanted to consult with a Interventions Radiologist near me. I explained my situation and he then ordered a CT Scan of my abdomen and pelvic. Once the results were in he called me to see him immediately. At this point I knew something was really wrong.
The physicians in details began to explained that the IVC Filter that was inserted was out of the vena cava and into my main organs. He explained that the filter is the cause of my pain but it was impossible to remove it due to the amount of time I have had it and because it is a permanent filter. He suggested to go back to the hospital where I had the procedure and retrieve all my past CT Scan films to determine whether the filter had moved. Once I retrieved the films and the doctor was able to view them he gave me the worst news of my life. His words exactly, " The IVC Filter was misplaced when you had the procedure done". I was lost for words! I felt like this was the end of me. For 10 years, I thought the filter was saving my life when all along it has doing me harm.
Although I was devastated by the news I would not allow this to break me. I decided I would go for a second opinion but I wanted to go to the best hospitals. After doing some research I decided to reach out a hospital in New York City. I was able to consult with a Interventionist Radiologist. Once he reviewed my films he was shock by the position of my filter. He immediately suggested the filter should be removed. He explained that if I do not remove it, the filter would do a lot of damage to my main organs. He was very honest and straight forward, he refused to do the surgery since he has not dealt with a situation like mine. He expressed that I am definitely a rare and complicated case. He also informed me that if I do not removed the filter I will soon be faced with many complications that will eventually will lead to death. He suggested maybe an organ transplant doctor would be able to remove it, since they are more familiarized with organs. He then referred me to an organ surgeon where he was interested in my case and offered to do open surgery to remove the filter but with a 25 percent chance of making it through surgery. That was not good enough for me since I had to think about if I lose my life during surgery my children will be left without a mother.
By this time, I was so depressed that I began to lose some hope. Until a childhood friend send me a link of a doctor in California that did surgery to a woman who had faced the same problem I was facing. The next morning I reached out to them and explained my situation. I sent all my images to the physician and they immediately reached out to me. I spoke to the physician and he is almost positive he can remove the filter with less risk. I began to feel hope again!
Thank you for taking your time to read my story. May God Bless You and please keep me in your prayers!
I decided to share my story because I am asking for your help to make it possible for me and my family to travel to California so I can proceed with the surgery that will save my life. Anything you can donate, will be extremely appreciated it!
Here is RUTH STORY:
On February 2, 2005 I gave birth to a beautiful 2.2lbs premature baby girl name Briana Hope Rivera. Despite of the complications I experience during pregnancy, I was full of joy knowing that she was born healthy.
A few days after being discharge I began to feel a lot of pain on my lower back and legs. I began to think it was due to my c-section. I ignored it for a few days but I began to feel worst. I decided to go back to the hospital. After running a few test I received the awful news that I had develop DVT (blood clots) on my right leg. The physicians assured me that with the proper medications I would be fine. My physician then started me on a medication call Heparin (blood thinners).
I was treated at the hospital for about two weeks before I was discharge. Shortly hours after being discharge I began to feel shortness of breath and excruciating pain. I was then rushed back to the emergency room. Upon arrival the physicians began ordering a few exams to determine why I was in pain and short of breath. Once again, I received the devastating news that I had developed more blood clots and a pulmonary embolism. I was afraid for my life!
My physician immediately suggested to insert a IVC Filter to avoid any more blood clots from traveling to my lungs, brain and heart. Without any hesitation, I agreed to go on with the procedure because I was not ready to lose my life.
On February 25, 2005, I had an IVC Filter inserted in my vena cava vein to prevent any more complications. Although the procedure did not remove the blood clots in my legs it did lower the risk of any harmful doing. After a few weeks of recovery I was allowed to finally go home with my family.
I thought this was the end of my scare. I was absolutely wrong! A few years later after I had the IVC Filter inserted I began to feel uncomfortable pain on my left side of my abdomen. I was treated many times at the hospital and they could not quite find what was the problem. I could not understand why I was in so much pain I consulted my primary physician several times and all he can conclude was that it can be a muscle pain, due to being slightly overweight or it was just mental. I began to think to myself if this can really be true. I went on a strict diet thinking the pain was because I was a little over weight. I stop working out thinking that it might be a muscle pain. Neither worked and the pain continued. I then began to feel very stressed out not knowing the cause of my pain.
In March 2015, I decided I wanted to consult with a Interventions Radiologist near me. I explained my situation and he then ordered a CT Scan of my abdomen and pelvic. Once the results were in he called me to see him immediately. At this point I knew something was really wrong.
The physicians in details began to explained that the IVC Filter that was inserted was out of the vena cava and into my main organs. He explained that the filter is the cause of my pain but it was impossible to remove it due to the amount of time I have had it and because it is a permanent filter. He suggested to go back to the hospital where I had the procedure and retrieve all my past CT Scan films to determine whether the filter had moved. Once I retrieved the films and the doctor was able to view them he gave me the worst news of my life. His words exactly, " The IVC Filter was misplaced when you had the procedure done". I was lost for words! I felt like this was the end of me. For 10 years, I thought the filter was saving my life when all along it has doing me harm.
Although I was devastated by the news I would not allow this to break me. I decided I would go for a second opinion but I wanted to go to the best hospitals. After doing some research I decided to reach out a hospital in New York City. I was able to consult with a Interventionist Radiologist. Once he reviewed my films he was shock by the position of my filter. He immediately suggested the filter should be removed. He explained that if I do not remove it, the filter would do a lot of damage to my main organs. He was very honest and straight forward, he refused to do the surgery since he has not dealt with a situation like mine. He expressed that I am definitely a rare and complicated case. He also informed me that if I do not removed the filter I will soon be faced with many complications that will eventually will lead to death. He suggested maybe an organ transplant doctor would be able to remove it, since they are more familiarized with organs. He then referred me to an organ surgeon where he was interested in my case and offered to do open surgery to remove the filter but with a 25 percent chance of making it through surgery. That was not good enough for me since I had to think about if I lose my life during surgery my children will be left without a mother.
By this time, I was so depressed that I began to lose some hope. Until a childhood friend send me a link of a doctor in California that did surgery to a woman who had faced the same problem I was facing. The next morning I reached out to them and explained my situation. I sent all my images to the physician and they immediately reached out to me. I spoke to the physician and he is almost positive he can remove the filter with less risk. I began to feel hope again!
Thank you for taking your time to read my story. May God Bless You and please keep me in your prayers!
Organizer and beneficiary
Ivelise Estremera
Organizer
Jersey City, NJ
Ruth Sanchez
Beneficiary
