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A home for my brother and his family.

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Dear friends and kind souls,
I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart. I am asking for prayers and donations to help my brother and his family. My name is Vanessa, I am my brother's health care proxy. My brother, Sam, was admitted to ICU on May 10, 2022. Doctors said he would have been dead if his wife had not called the ambulance that moment. He was barely breathing with a blood pressure of 30/20. He was placed on life support, given 3 different blood pressure medications to raise it up, 3 different antibiotics to fight pneumonia, and a medication to lower his heart rate. Once his blood pressure and heart rate stabilized, he was given a feeding tube to help him get nutrients. Sam just turned 50 this past March, was sick and had trouble swallowing food for at least a couple of months prior to being admitted to ICU, which resulted in aspirating pneumonia and caused him to lose alot of weight- he is now only 80 lbs. Still my brother managed to go to work to support his family as often as he could. He was working the day before he landed in the ICU.
 
It is 11 days now since my brother had been in ICU, not only I worry about him being able to breathe on his own; I am concerned about muscular atrophy, bed rash, his kids being without a father if he does not come through, and the three flights of stairs he struggles to climb if he gets through. Doctors said that his breathing muscles are so weak since he is very malnourished that he will need a tracheostomy and a peg ( surgery where a tube is placed in his neck to help with breathing, and a feeding tube in the stomach to receive nutrients) to help him be on his feet. This means my brother would spend 12 plus weeks in a rehab facility after surgery. Doctors informed me for each day in ICU a week in rehab is needed. It is uncertain when my brother will be released. I pray daily that he gets better and to be home with his kids and wife.
 
My wishes are... for my brother to live long enough to see his girls (3 and 8 yrs. old) grow up- possibly into college years and get married, and for them to have a decent place to live when their dad gets out. They are currently living on the third floor in an old run down brick building with no yard over a convenient store, where the main door does not open with a buzz unless someone comes down to let you in. I wish to see him in a nicer area on the first floor with a yard where the kids can play and feel safe to be outside. I often say I wishI win the lottery...I would buy them a home with a nice yard. It is what my brother dreams of, but 5 years ago leukemia dampened his life.
 
My brother was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia about 5 years ago and given 20-40% survival rate even with treatment. Doctors recommended stem cells transplant to prolong his life. About 3 years ago, I gave my brother stem cells. The transplant is not a guaranteed for the type of leukemia he has, and there is risk of complications. Sam has some complications with my stem cells and takes several medications to help. Due to his low immune system, my brother gets infections easily- he had been in and out of the hospital in the past, but this time is the most critical. I hope and pray the my brother will be given another chance at life, a longer and healthier one so he can be with us. I certainly do not want his kids to be without a father for we have lost our father at a very young age.
 
I am grateful for your support from the bottom of my heart. Please keep my brother in your prayers. May you be happy and healthy always.
 
Vanessa Le
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Donations 

  • Yunjoo Om
    • $100 
    • 2 yrs
  • Richard Aji
    • $100 
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 2 yrs
  • Dianne StSauveur
    • $100 
    • 2 yrs
  • Koke Leng
    • $200 
    • 2 yrs
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Organizer

Nessa Le
Organizer
Lowell, MA

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