Jesse's GVHD Family Fund
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Jesse. A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer known as Aplastic anemia. Basically, it is a complete bone marrow failure. Your bone marrow is where all your red and white blood cells are produced as well as all your platelets, the cells that help your blood clot. The only cure for this disease is a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, I received a transplant in June of 2016. The transplant itself went extremely well, I engrafted perfectly. The struggle has come after the transplant.
Nearly 50% of transplant recipients experience something known as Graft Versus Host Disease or GVHD. This condition is where the new stem cells from the transplant realize they are in a new place and begin to attack the major organs of the host because they are foreign. This can be any one of the organs of the body but the main ones attacked are the gut, skin, eyes, mouth, and liver.
Over the past nine months or so I have fought through nearly all the forms of this terrible disease. First I had gut issues with terrible stabbing pain and constant diarrhea. That went in for a couple of months. The treatment was being put inpatient in Colorado for 25 days of gut rest. No food, no water, just an IV nutrition. After I beat that I began having a skin rash all over most of my body which was very uncomfortable. It felt like my skin was being tightened day after day. This form of the GVHD is still affecting me today. Recently has been the hardest as my eyes have started to be attacked by the disease. Some people go blind from the condition but I am fighting against that with steroid eye drops and medications. The worst of it all has been the GVHD attacking my mouth. Since there is so much activity in a person's mouth, it is one of the most common organs affected. It has created sores and lesions in my mouth making it nearly impossible to eat and take my medications. Honestly, this is the form of GVHD that kills a majority of blood cancer patients. But every day, I will fight to not let myself become one of those statistics.
This is why we are reaching out to the GoFundMe community. Cancer does not only affect the patient but it affects the loved ones of the patient. My fiance Jasmine, the love of my life, has been with me 100% from the get go. With my constant risk for infection, on any given day I could spike a fever of 102 degrees and have to be lifted to the hospital. She is one of the strongest people I know for being able to hold down our household at a moments notice, we have two children together, Emelia who is four years old and Elliott who is twelve. Sometimes I can be seen locally in Albuquerque but sometimes my condition is so out of control I need to be seen in Denver where I received my transplant.
Needless to say this has taken a great toll on my family. Jasmine and I are a team and not having her teammate there at random times takes a large emotional toll, on not only her, but our children. Their schedules are all over the place which is not good for developing children.
Jasmine works full time in orthodontics so when I am home I spend a lot of time by myself because our children attend their own respective schools. I cannot work due to my condition so I receive some disability that helps pay the bills but that stress of having to work is placed on Jasmine's shoulders.
We are reaching out to the GoFundMe community and the people we know to raise funds for a few things that would make my recovery easier on my family and myself. First of all we are trying to raise the funds for a newer vehicle. Currently we have a car that runs but is fifteen years old and is running on its last legs. With my transplant center being in Denver we often have to travel the eight or so hours to Denver for appointments and that is always a risky trip in our car. Secondly, we would like to raise funds for Jasmine to be able to stay home and become my full-time caregiver. I have had multiple falls over the past years with my conditions could actually prove to be fatal. Jasmine is the person I trust most and who is with me day in and day out, helping me with as much as she can but as I said before, she has a full-time career. It would make us both happier if she could take a leave of absense to be able to help me in my recovery, helping me bathe, helping me prepare meals, and keeping me on my medicine schedule. I take around a dozen medication multiple times a day and sometimes it is hard to keep them organized. Lastly, we would like to take a family vacation. Nothing too extravagent its just that over the past two years since my diagnosis our family has been unable to have a real vacation and take a trip which honestly breaks my heart. Day after day they support me and show me love in my recovery and I would love to give them the gift of relaxation and fun. A time where we could forget the cancer and share some laughs and make happy memories with one another.
So that is our story. We are a God fearing and God loving family who was dealt a tough hand but we have never given up hope for the future. I will get better and this trial will all be a distant memory. We ask you for your generosity and kindness in however large or small the amount. Know it would be greatly appreciated. My family and I thank you so much for your time and reading about our situation and we send our blessings to you and yours.
Nearly 50% of transplant recipients experience something known as Graft Versus Host Disease or GVHD. This condition is where the new stem cells from the transplant realize they are in a new place and begin to attack the major organs of the host because they are foreign. This can be any one of the organs of the body but the main ones attacked are the gut, skin, eyes, mouth, and liver.
Over the past nine months or so I have fought through nearly all the forms of this terrible disease. First I had gut issues with terrible stabbing pain and constant diarrhea. That went in for a couple of months. The treatment was being put inpatient in Colorado for 25 days of gut rest. No food, no water, just an IV nutrition. After I beat that I began having a skin rash all over most of my body which was very uncomfortable. It felt like my skin was being tightened day after day. This form of the GVHD is still affecting me today. Recently has been the hardest as my eyes have started to be attacked by the disease. Some people go blind from the condition but I am fighting against that with steroid eye drops and medications. The worst of it all has been the GVHD attacking my mouth. Since there is so much activity in a person's mouth, it is one of the most common organs affected. It has created sores and lesions in my mouth making it nearly impossible to eat and take my medications. Honestly, this is the form of GVHD that kills a majority of blood cancer patients. But every day, I will fight to not let myself become one of those statistics.
This is why we are reaching out to the GoFundMe community. Cancer does not only affect the patient but it affects the loved ones of the patient. My fiance Jasmine, the love of my life, has been with me 100% from the get go. With my constant risk for infection, on any given day I could spike a fever of 102 degrees and have to be lifted to the hospital. She is one of the strongest people I know for being able to hold down our household at a moments notice, we have two children together, Emelia who is four years old and Elliott who is twelve. Sometimes I can be seen locally in Albuquerque but sometimes my condition is so out of control I need to be seen in Denver where I received my transplant.
Needless to say this has taken a great toll on my family. Jasmine and I are a team and not having her teammate there at random times takes a large emotional toll, on not only her, but our children. Their schedules are all over the place which is not good for developing children.
Jasmine works full time in orthodontics so when I am home I spend a lot of time by myself because our children attend their own respective schools. I cannot work due to my condition so I receive some disability that helps pay the bills but that stress of having to work is placed on Jasmine's shoulders.
We are reaching out to the GoFundMe community and the people we know to raise funds for a few things that would make my recovery easier on my family and myself. First of all we are trying to raise the funds for a newer vehicle. Currently we have a car that runs but is fifteen years old and is running on its last legs. With my transplant center being in Denver we often have to travel the eight or so hours to Denver for appointments and that is always a risky trip in our car. Secondly, we would like to raise funds for Jasmine to be able to stay home and become my full-time caregiver. I have had multiple falls over the past years with my conditions could actually prove to be fatal. Jasmine is the person I trust most and who is with me day in and day out, helping me with as much as she can but as I said before, she has a full-time career. It would make us both happier if she could take a leave of absense to be able to help me in my recovery, helping me bathe, helping me prepare meals, and keeping me on my medicine schedule. I take around a dozen medication multiple times a day and sometimes it is hard to keep them organized. Lastly, we would like to take a family vacation. Nothing too extravagent its just that over the past two years since my diagnosis our family has been unable to have a real vacation and take a trip which honestly breaks my heart. Day after day they support me and show me love in my recovery and I would love to give them the gift of relaxation and fun. A time where we could forget the cancer and share some laughs and make happy memories with one another.
So that is our story. We are a God fearing and God loving family who was dealt a tough hand but we have never given up hope for the future. I will get better and this trial will all be a distant memory. We ask you for your generosity and kindness in however large or small the amount. Know it would be greatly appreciated. My family and I thank you so much for your time and reading about our situation and we send our blessings to you and yours.
Organizer
Jasmine Vazquez
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM
