Lana's Fight Against Leukemia
Donation protected
Dear Family and Friends,
My best friend Lana has always been the pretty, popular and funny girl in high school. Her mom was her best friend. Before we graduated college, she lost her mom due to kidney failure. The day she lost her mom and her best friend, she took on the responsibility of raising and supporting her two younger brothers. At 19 years old, she single handedly managed their family business to make sure that her siblings are taken cared of. She had this responsibility while she was studying nursing in college. Eventually, she had to close down their family business because it was too much to handle for someone in her situation. Despite the unfortunate event of losing their source of income, with the help of her family and friends, determination and hard work, she was able to make ends meet. Fast forward years later, her two brothers were able to graduate college.
Watching my best friend fight through all the struggles that has come her way, she never complained, she never compared her situation to other people, she never asked for help, she never resented that she had to face such problems so early in life. Instead, she was always hopeful.
She hasn't recovered financially yet. But on February 25th, 2016, I got the news that Lana was admitted to Pingoy hospital due to low hemoglobin and platelets. Peripheral blood smear revealed Leukemia. Blood sample was sent to NKTI and was confirmed that she has Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). She is under the care of Dr. Noel Pingoy, a hema-oncology specialist.
Treatment options for ALL include chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. She started her chemotherapy last March 23rd at General Santos Doctors Hospital. It will require her to stay in the hospital for 30 days (28 days of chemo, day 29 for bone marrow aspiration to determine if leukemic cells are still present).
Few days after her chemotherapy, Lana tolerated all the side effects. However, last Saturday (April 2nd), she had a fever, WBC (white blood cells) remarkedly decreased so chemotherapy was stopped and she started with antibiotics. She was hypotensive ( low blood pressure) last Sunday (April 3rd) and was transferred to the ICU for close monitoring. A couple of hours ago, I just heard from her family that she was just intubated (life support).
I am asking for everyone's help because I want to be able to give my best friend a fighting chance against this disease. I don't want my best friend to worry about where the money will come from while she is being treated. She is the kind of person who would think about her siblings first, and how she might be a burden to other people, instead of just focusing on getting better.
As you all know, Philippines is a third world country. Insurance barely covers any of the medical costs. In our country, if you don't have cash to pay for treatments, you don't get treated at all. That's why any amount would help.
I am so thankful that you took the time to read my cause. I hope you could all meet her so that you can see why I love her so much and why I am doing everything that I can to help her out.
Thank you so much and have a great day!
When I first thought about initiating this campaign for Lana, I was only thinking of gathering donations for her immediate medical needs.
My first goal was to raise $2,000 by end of the week. I was so moved when I saw this morning that my goal was met in 8 hours after I posted Lana's story online. The current donations will pay for Lana's existing bill in the hospital.
However, we are acquiring more expenses every day for her medicine and diagnostics. So I increased the set amount for the goal.
Most of all, I am deeply moved by how many people are willing to help out. It brought me to tears when I woke up this morning and saw the overwhelming support of people for Lana - friends, family and strangers. The tenderness and kindness that everyone has shown are a source of strength and resolution.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
My best friend Lana has always been the pretty, popular and funny girl in high school. Her mom was her best friend. Before we graduated college, she lost her mom due to kidney failure. The day she lost her mom and her best friend, she took on the responsibility of raising and supporting her two younger brothers. At 19 years old, she single handedly managed their family business to make sure that her siblings are taken cared of. She had this responsibility while she was studying nursing in college. Eventually, she had to close down their family business because it was too much to handle for someone in her situation. Despite the unfortunate event of losing their source of income, with the help of her family and friends, determination and hard work, she was able to make ends meet. Fast forward years later, her two brothers were able to graduate college.
Watching my best friend fight through all the struggles that has come her way, she never complained, she never compared her situation to other people, she never asked for help, she never resented that she had to face such problems so early in life. Instead, she was always hopeful.
She hasn't recovered financially yet. But on February 25th, 2016, I got the news that Lana was admitted to Pingoy hospital due to low hemoglobin and platelets. Peripheral blood smear revealed Leukemia. Blood sample was sent to NKTI and was confirmed that she has Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). She is under the care of Dr. Noel Pingoy, a hema-oncology specialist.
Treatment options for ALL include chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. She started her chemotherapy last March 23rd at General Santos Doctors Hospital. It will require her to stay in the hospital for 30 days (28 days of chemo, day 29 for bone marrow aspiration to determine if leukemic cells are still present).
Few days after her chemotherapy, Lana tolerated all the side effects. However, last Saturday (April 2nd), she had a fever, WBC (white blood cells) remarkedly decreased so chemotherapy was stopped and she started with antibiotics. She was hypotensive ( low blood pressure) last Sunday (April 3rd) and was transferred to the ICU for close monitoring. A couple of hours ago, I just heard from her family that she was just intubated (life support).
I am asking for everyone's help because I want to be able to give my best friend a fighting chance against this disease. I don't want my best friend to worry about where the money will come from while she is being treated. She is the kind of person who would think about her siblings first, and how she might be a burden to other people, instead of just focusing on getting better.
As you all know, Philippines is a third world country. Insurance barely covers any of the medical costs. In our country, if you don't have cash to pay for treatments, you don't get treated at all. That's why any amount would help.
I am so thankful that you took the time to read my cause. I hope you could all meet her so that you can see why I love her so much and why I am doing everything that I can to help her out.
Thank you so much and have a great day!
When I first thought about initiating this campaign for Lana, I was only thinking of gathering donations for her immediate medical needs.
My first goal was to raise $2,000 by end of the week. I was so moved when I saw this morning that my goal was met in 8 hours after I posted Lana's story online. The current donations will pay for Lana's existing bill in the hospital.
However, we are acquiring more expenses every day for her medicine and diagnostics. So I increased the set amount for the goal.
Most of all, I am deeply moved by how many people are willing to help out. It brought me to tears when I woke up this morning and saw the overwhelming support of people for Lana - friends, family and strangers. The tenderness and kindness that everyone has shown are a source of strength and resolution.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Organizer
Raedel Angela Patrimonio Ortiz
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA