Gaby’s Fight | Juntos Por Gaby
Donation protected
My name is Stephanie Plotnik, and I live in San Diego, California.
I created this page in order to help my cousin Gaby raise funds to contribute to the insurmountable medical costs she and her family have been facing and will continue to face.
Because she lives outside the country, and cannot personally withdraw the money to a non-US bank account, I have set this page up for her and will be the one withdrawing any donations we raise. Once the campaign comes to an end, I will personally send Gaby a wire transfer for the total $ we receive.
At that time I will update you all and will notify you that the entirety of the money is in her hands.
As some of you may know, my cousin Gabriela Shabot has been fighting a genetic disease that is extremely rare called Acute Intermittent Porphyria. Her first crisis was in February and her second one was in March. At this time her health insurance company (she lives in Mexico City) gave notice that they would no longer cover anything related to her Porphyria symptoms. Since her first crisis 8 months ago, she has been hospitalized over 25 times, she is barely at home and the only existing treatment is overwhelmingly expensive.
During every crisis, she needs 4-6 bags of hematin administered, each bag costing between $6,000-$9,000 dollars. That, plus the hospital bills, other medications that she needs, the list and expenses are endless.
Gaby’s life has changed dramatically since she got sick, she’s had to postpone her medical degree, her personal life, as well as drastically change her eating, sleeping, drinking, and medical habits. But one thing that remains as strong as ever is her light, her charm and her incredible sense of humor despite this being with out dramatization the worst time of her life.
NOW SHE NEEDS OUR HELP to continue with this battle. Please donate what you can because a little can turn into a lot. Please, please share, help Gaby pay for the only treatment available, help us spread the word on porphyria, the more people become aware of its existence the more we can help others who suffer the same illness, or those who have symptoms and have not yet been diagnosed.
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT PORPHYRIA: Porphyria is a genetic disease that disrupts the process in the body that is in charge of producing hemoglobin (the component that makes our blood cells red and help carry oxygen to all organs), as well as an enzyme needed by the liver to detoxify our body. Because the cycle is not able to be completed, other components get stuck in the process- these are called porphyrins and they are extremely toxic. Some of the symptoms in Acute Intermittent Porphyria include: sensation of burning skin, 10/10 pain episodes, migraines, insomnia, loss of motor abilities, sensation of stabbing pain in ribcage and abdomen, intestinal and renal paralysis, convulsions, coma...The only official treatment available for this rare disease is the use of intravenous glucose, symptom management and hematin. During every crisis 4-6 vials of hematin are used, each vial has a cost of $6,000 usd - $9,000 usd, and can only be administered to a patient that is hospitalized (can’t be used at home). Thank you for all of those who took the time to read and shared! A million overwhelming from the bottom of our hearts thanks to those who donated let’s join Gaby in her fight and give what we can to reduce the burden she and her family are carrying!
I created this page in order to help my cousin Gaby raise funds to contribute to the insurmountable medical costs she and her family have been facing and will continue to face.
Because she lives outside the country, and cannot personally withdraw the money to a non-US bank account, I have set this page up for her and will be the one withdrawing any donations we raise. Once the campaign comes to an end, I will personally send Gaby a wire transfer for the total $ we receive.
At that time I will update you all and will notify you that the entirety of the money is in her hands.
As some of you may know, my cousin Gabriela Shabot has been fighting a genetic disease that is extremely rare called Acute Intermittent Porphyria. Her first crisis was in February and her second one was in March. At this time her health insurance company (she lives in Mexico City) gave notice that they would no longer cover anything related to her Porphyria symptoms. Since her first crisis 8 months ago, she has been hospitalized over 25 times, she is barely at home and the only existing treatment is overwhelmingly expensive.
During every crisis, she needs 4-6 bags of hematin administered, each bag costing between $6,000-$9,000 dollars. That, plus the hospital bills, other medications that she needs, the list and expenses are endless.
Gaby’s life has changed dramatically since she got sick, she’s had to postpone her medical degree, her personal life, as well as drastically change her eating, sleeping, drinking, and medical habits. But one thing that remains as strong as ever is her light, her charm and her incredible sense of humor despite this being with out dramatization the worst time of her life.
NOW SHE NEEDS OUR HELP to continue with this battle. Please donate what you can because a little can turn into a lot. Please, please share, help Gaby pay for the only treatment available, help us spread the word on porphyria, the more people become aware of its existence the more we can help others who suffer the same illness, or those who have symptoms and have not yet been diagnosed.
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT PORPHYRIA: Porphyria is a genetic disease that disrupts the process in the body that is in charge of producing hemoglobin (the component that makes our blood cells red and help carry oxygen to all organs), as well as an enzyme needed by the liver to detoxify our body. Because the cycle is not able to be completed, other components get stuck in the process- these are called porphyrins and they are extremely toxic. Some of the symptoms in Acute Intermittent Porphyria include: sensation of burning skin, 10/10 pain episodes, migraines, insomnia, loss of motor abilities, sensation of stabbing pain in ribcage and abdomen, intestinal and renal paralysis, convulsions, coma...The only official treatment available for this rare disease is the use of intravenous glucose, symptom management and hematin. During every crisis 4-6 vials of hematin are used, each vial has a cost of $6,000 usd - $9,000 usd, and can only be administered to a patient that is hospitalized (can’t be used at home). Thank you for all of those who took the time to read and shared! A million overwhelming from the bottom of our hearts thanks to those who donated let’s join Gaby in her fight and give what we can to reduce the burden she and her family are carrying!
Organiser
Stephanie Silberstein Plotnik
Organiser
San Diego, CA
