Amalia's Battle: A Sister's Heartfelt Plea

Sometimes, there’s some damage during the battle!

Hello. My name is Bella, and I am Amalia's older sister. Since birth, my sister has claimed her place in our lives with her larger-than-life personality. Her magnetic soul demands attention and spreads joy wherever she goes. Her infectious laughter and adventurous spirit light up our world, and I can’t imagine my life without her; she’s my best friend.

However, our world collapsed on August 11th. Amalia called me in a panic, insisting that something was terribly wrong and that she needed immediate medical attention but didn’t feel well enough to drive. At the time, she had a migraine and a relentless sense of doom. I quickly rushed her to urgent care, where she was dismissed and told to take ibuprofen and Claritin for her symptoms. Nevertheless, I assured her I wouldn’t let anything happen to her, unaware of how severe the situation would soon become.

Less than 12 hours after she visited urgent care, Amalia's sense of impending doom escalated into paranoia and a complete loss of touch with reality. Our parents discovered her "packing for heaven" and immediately took her to the emergency department. There, an excellent physician took her seriously. After a series of tests, it was determined that she had encephalitis of unknown origin, and she was quickly admitted to the ICU. Within 24 hours of her admission, she could no longer recognize her own family despite us sitting by her bedside. Just 48 hours later, Amalia experienced her first seizure and required intubation; she has been in a coma ever since.

Our family has never felt so helpless in the face of such an unexpected adversary. We found ourselves fighting for my previously healthy 21-year-old sister's life as it became evident that our vibrant, strong-willed Amalia could no longer fight for herself. Fortunately, we were blessed with a diligent neurologist who diagnosed Amalia within four days of her admission. It turned out that she had a better chance of being struck by lightning than receiving this diagnosis so quickly.

Amalia was diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, commonly known as "Brain on Fire Disease." This autoimmune disorder occurs when the body mistakenly attacks its own brain, typically occurring in early adulthood and most commonly affecting women. An ovarian teratoma (a benign tumor) is often the culprit; it releases antibodies that erroneously attack the NMDA receptors in the brain, and Amalia had one. Unfortunately, these receptors are vital for crucial functions such as learning, memory, central nervous system development, breathing, and movement. The good news is that it is curable! However, there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment due to its rarity. After multiple invasive procedures and participation in a research trial, the best physicians have told us that Amalia is among the top 10% of the most severe cases they have encountered. She is currently being treated at the University of Utah and undergoing chemotherapy in an attempt to eliminate the remaining antibodies.

Even so, despite previous and ongoing treatments, my comatose sister receives a multitude of medical bills every day. It has been two months since the onset of this devastating disease, and my young sister’s life has been drastically altered. To make matters worse, when Amalia eventually gains consciousness, she will require extensive rehabilitation. My 21-year-old sister will have to relearn how to eat, walk, and talk—a poignant reminder of just how fragile our health and sanity can be.

In our continued fight for my sister, I am reaching out to you all for help. Thank God, she is still under my parents’ insurance. However, they are expecting to meet this year and next year’s out-of-pocket maximum, and there is a large chunk of required restoration due to damage caused by long-term intubation that is not covered. We’re starting this GoFundMe to support her through this challenging time and to ensure she gets the care and resources she needs. All contributions will go directly to my sister (accepted by our dad, Matthew Romero, in lieu of Amalia) to cover all medical bills, and travel or accommodation needs she may encounter to receive the required care. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference and help us lift her spirits. Thank you for being a part of Amalia's fight!