3rd Double Lung Transplant (Relocation)
Donation protected
Hi! I’m Alvaro Vasquez :), I’m sorry to bother but my situation is extremely urgent and scarily sensitive. I turned 23 this past March and am facing the reality of not reaching 24. I’m fighting to live.
I’m usually not the type to ask or admit when I need help, let alone bother anyone when it comes to my medical situation. Unfortunately, my situation has grown too large for me to bare alone anymore, and I’m reaching out to the community for help and support. This page is being launched for the purpose of raising $15,000, money that will be used in my journey to help qualify me for a life saving surgery, a Third Double Lung Transplant with Duke University Medical Hospital. This is my only hope. The money will be used for housing, food, and other basic necessities. If you find it in your heart to donate, I’d forever be grateful to you, the individual, and the community. Please continue to read below.
What Happened-
I was born with a rare genetic illness, Cystic Fibrosis, that took control of my life since the day I was born. Cystic Fibrosis isn’t an incredibly well known disease, however it’s devastation to the body is unmistakable. My particular mutation of the disease being a common story among the Cystic Fibrosis Community. The disease works by creating thick and viscous secretions that end up blocking and cutting off air supply to your lungs and the deep airways within your lungs, slowly suffocating you over time. Without intervention of advancements in medicine or treatments to a patient, expected lifespans would rarely reach past 20 years old. There are times where I wish I had control over what I was born into but no one ever really has a choice in that, so just like everyone else, we have to work with what we were given :).
My First Transplant-
My illness got a lot worse when I was 13, leading to a long and difficult evaluation process for my First double lung transplant at Columbia New York Presbyterian Hospital, an incredible gift I’d receive soon after turning 16. The years following my First transplant would be some of the best years of my entire life. I was finally healthy, I was happy, and I was grateful for my Donor, and Donor’s Family, for giving me a second chance at breathing in life to its fullest extent. I will forever be humbled and grateful for those years, beyond what words can express.
Organ Rejection-
Unfortunately, Rejection is a reality of any transplant, and is painfully often the undoing of many transplant recipients, and I was no exemption. My body started to reject my lungs when I was 19, leading to a rapid decline in my lung function, and an incredibly close brush with death. During the time I weighed roughly 80 pounds, and was breathing with one lung, the other had seemingly permanently collapsed, as it could never be repaired despite numerous attempts. My only salvation from the chaotic downward spiraling of my health, would have been a Second Double Lung Transplant; And in April of 2016, that’s exactly what I got.
My Second Transplant-
The difference in my breathing was like night and day. I relived the same happiness I experienced after my First. I worked hard to hit goals I had set for myself when I was sick, I have a dream where I’m financially stable enough to start my own Foundation one day and am able to give back to the community in an incredibly big way, a dream I’m still working towards today. Rejection still showed up unfortunately, but this time, it was slower than the First time. The more sick I became the harder it was to work towards my goals, meaning it would take longer for me to ever hit my dream, if at all. The most devastating part about being sick, is that it tends to “undo” all the hard work previously placed, creating the most soul crushing setbacks ever. More than 4 years later now I find myself in an all too familiar situation, with an alarmingly new rapid decline in my lung function, increasing shortness of breath, and painful stifled coughing on a daily basis.
Where we stand now-
I’m currently in similar shoes as I was in before my Second Transplant, I don’t have much time and the only real difference this time around is a possibility of a Third Double Lung Transplant with Duke University Hospital. Something that is luckily covered by my insurance.
Where we need to be-
Duke is in Durham, North Carolina. I live in New York. The cost of moving out to North Carolina for 6 months is roughly around $15,000, including food and rent. In order to qualify for Dukes Transplant list I need raise this much money and be able bodied and ready for surgery in every way; Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Socially, and Financially.
How fast we need to get there-
I need to have the funds as soon as possible, as my current health condition is unpredictable at best, and can worsen in just one bad day, one bad day can stop all of this from happening. I’m working every day to keep myself as healthy as possible to help keep the worse at bay. However, in my experience, anything that can happen, will happen, a thought that motivates and terrifies me everyday to never give up and to always be keen on my senses.
Join me-
I’m very sorry, I’m not one to ask for help ever but my situation is demanding that I do now, for the sake of my loved ones, I need to push forward, I need to fight for my life and their happiness. I need to put in all my effort in working out my body to be ready for an indescribably difficult and complex surgery that lasts more than half a day. I need to be ready in every way, but I can’t do it alone this time, I’m asking for your help, I’m sorry to bother you but, your help would make the difference between what is possible and what is not. Thank you for reading this, I hope you all have a wonderful day, thank you.
Official Financial Letter from Duke:
"Dear Mr.Vasquez:
The purpose of this letter is to respond to your request of the financial
assessment of funds needed for lung transplantation. Based on your financial
need, your goal for fundraising is $ 15,000.00. These funds will be used to
assist with all services associated with transplant/related expenses.
Regards,
Julia Boatwright-Holden
Julia Boatwright-Holden
Financial Transplant Coordinator
Duke University Hospital"
I’m usually not the type to ask or admit when I need help, let alone bother anyone when it comes to my medical situation. Unfortunately, my situation has grown too large for me to bare alone anymore, and I’m reaching out to the community for help and support. This page is being launched for the purpose of raising $15,000, money that will be used in my journey to help qualify me for a life saving surgery, a Third Double Lung Transplant with Duke University Medical Hospital. This is my only hope. The money will be used for housing, food, and other basic necessities. If you find it in your heart to donate, I’d forever be grateful to you, the individual, and the community. Please continue to read below.
What Happened-
I was born with a rare genetic illness, Cystic Fibrosis, that took control of my life since the day I was born. Cystic Fibrosis isn’t an incredibly well known disease, however it’s devastation to the body is unmistakable. My particular mutation of the disease being a common story among the Cystic Fibrosis Community. The disease works by creating thick and viscous secretions that end up blocking and cutting off air supply to your lungs and the deep airways within your lungs, slowly suffocating you over time. Without intervention of advancements in medicine or treatments to a patient, expected lifespans would rarely reach past 20 years old. There are times where I wish I had control over what I was born into but no one ever really has a choice in that, so just like everyone else, we have to work with what we were given :).
My First Transplant-
My illness got a lot worse when I was 13, leading to a long and difficult evaluation process for my First double lung transplant at Columbia New York Presbyterian Hospital, an incredible gift I’d receive soon after turning 16. The years following my First transplant would be some of the best years of my entire life. I was finally healthy, I was happy, and I was grateful for my Donor, and Donor’s Family, for giving me a second chance at breathing in life to its fullest extent. I will forever be humbled and grateful for those years, beyond what words can express.
Organ Rejection-
Unfortunately, Rejection is a reality of any transplant, and is painfully often the undoing of many transplant recipients, and I was no exemption. My body started to reject my lungs when I was 19, leading to a rapid decline in my lung function, and an incredibly close brush with death. During the time I weighed roughly 80 pounds, and was breathing with one lung, the other had seemingly permanently collapsed, as it could never be repaired despite numerous attempts. My only salvation from the chaotic downward spiraling of my health, would have been a Second Double Lung Transplant; And in April of 2016, that’s exactly what I got.
My Second Transplant-
The difference in my breathing was like night and day. I relived the same happiness I experienced after my First. I worked hard to hit goals I had set for myself when I was sick, I have a dream where I’m financially stable enough to start my own Foundation one day and am able to give back to the community in an incredibly big way, a dream I’m still working towards today. Rejection still showed up unfortunately, but this time, it was slower than the First time. The more sick I became the harder it was to work towards my goals, meaning it would take longer for me to ever hit my dream, if at all. The most devastating part about being sick, is that it tends to “undo” all the hard work previously placed, creating the most soul crushing setbacks ever. More than 4 years later now I find myself in an all too familiar situation, with an alarmingly new rapid decline in my lung function, increasing shortness of breath, and painful stifled coughing on a daily basis.
Where we stand now-
I’m currently in similar shoes as I was in before my Second Transplant, I don’t have much time and the only real difference this time around is a possibility of a Third Double Lung Transplant with Duke University Hospital. Something that is luckily covered by my insurance.
Where we need to be-
Duke is in Durham, North Carolina. I live in New York. The cost of moving out to North Carolina for 6 months is roughly around $15,000, including food and rent. In order to qualify for Dukes Transplant list I need raise this much money and be able bodied and ready for surgery in every way; Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Socially, and Financially.
How fast we need to get there-
I need to have the funds as soon as possible, as my current health condition is unpredictable at best, and can worsen in just one bad day, one bad day can stop all of this from happening. I’m working every day to keep myself as healthy as possible to help keep the worse at bay. However, in my experience, anything that can happen, will happen, a thought that motivates and terrifies me everyday to never give up and to always be keen on my senses.
Join me-
I’m very sorry, I’m not one to ask for help ever but my situation is demanding that I do now, for the sake of my loved ones, I need to push forward, I need to fight for my life and their happiness. I need to put in all my effort in working out my body to be ready for an indescribably difficult and complex surgery that lasts more than half a day. I need to be ready in every way, but I can’t do it alone this time, I’m asking for your help, I’m sorry to bother you but, your help would make the difference between what is possible and what is not. Thank you for reading this, I hope you all have a wonderful day, thank you.
Official Financial Letter from Duke:
"Dear Mr.Vasquez:
The purpose of this letter is to respond to your request of the financial
assessment of funds needed for lung transplantation. Based on your financial
need, your goal for fundraising is $ 15,000.00. These funds will be used to
assist with all services associated with transplant/related expenses.
Regards,
Julia Boatwright-Holden
Julia Boatwright-Holden
Financial Transplant Coordinator
Duke University Hospital"
Organizer
Alvaro Vasquez
Organizer
East Rockaway, NY