Angie & Mar's Kidney Transplant!

Hello, thank you for taking the time to read this message. Our group is reaching out to the community to seek support in raising funds for two incredible women, Angie and Marlene (Mar). Angie has been courageously battling Lupus since the age of 19, and she is currently facing end-stage kidney failure. We are thrilled to share that Angie's older sister, Marlene, is a suitable kidney donor. The surgery is now scheduled for December 27th, and our goal is to raise $75,000 to cover the expenses for both of them as they embark on this journey.

Angie and Marlene, both dedicated professionals in the fields of special education and healthcare, wholeheartedly deserve our support for their unwavering commitment to our children and ailing family members within our community.

What makes this story even more inspiring is the potential for Angie to go into remission from this debilitating autoimmune disease through a new kidney. Your generosity and willingness to share her story means the world to us. We are deeply grateful for any donations and any efforts to spread awareness about their situation. Thank you for being a part of this important journey with Angie and Marlene!

Below is a brief video capturing the touching moment when Angie received the news that her sister had been approved as a compatible match. Following the video, I share the heartwarming story of Angie and Marlene, allowing you to get to know these truly remarkable women.

Samantha’s Story of Meeting Angie

I've had the privilege of knowing Angie for nearly two decades, and she truly embodies strength and an infectious zest for life! Our paths first crossed in college when we were both 22 years old. At that time, she radiated health and positivity, walking into our classrooms with a dazzling smile and those gorgeous, curly locks that left me in awe. Angie's mixed Dominican, Haitian, and Honduran heritage contribute to her lively personality. Hailing from the Bronx and later relocating to Texas during middle school, she brought a unique blend of cultural influences to her spirited persona. I remember thinking she was one of the most beautiful and self-assured individuals I had ever met. As our friendship blossomed, Angie confided in me about her journey with Lupus and her earlier battle with chemotherapy. Yet, even in recounting these challenging experiences, she exuded an extraordinary strength and vibrancy that almost made it seem unreal.

Over the years, Angie has evolved into a beacon of strength in my life, inspiring me to be stronger and face any obstacles with unwavering determination. She has been a steadfast presence by my side through the ebbs and flows of my life, from our carefree twenties to battling through chemotherapy, getting married, having children, dealing with postpartum and mental health challenges, changing careers, and even embarking on cross-country moves.

Her presence has become a source of profound security for me, and it's still difficult to fathom that her life is now at risk, even as I witness her literally connect herself to a dialysis machine. Angie must overcome this obstacle and emerge on the other side, and I know that countless others who love her dearly are going to great lengths to support her through this challenging journey.

Meeting Marlene (Mar)

As Angie and I grew closer, I initially assumed that she, like me, was financing her college education through student loans. However, as our friendship deepened, I had the privilege of learning about her extraordinary older sister, Marlene. Marlene held the role of the second eldest among the four siblings and was two years Angie's senior. Their father was absent from their lives, and their mother had limited proficiency in English, along with insufficient means to support her children's pursuit of a college education.

In her capacity as an older sibling, Marlene navigated high school then became a certified cardiac and vascular sonographer. Her motivation was clear: to provide financial support for her family. What astonished me even more was that Marlene was concurrently putting both Angie and their younger sister, Diana, through college, aiming to minimize the burden of student debt on them. It was almost inconceivable. Marlene was close to my age and had been tirelessly working to ensure her younger sisters could graduate with minimal financial strain.

Marlene's selfless dedication to her family is truly immeasurable. She devoted years to sacrificing her income and personal aspirations to ensure the success of those she held dear. Her sacrifices paved the way for Angie to become a special needs teacher today, allowing her to make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless children who rely on her support. Marlene's unwavering commitment has had a profound impact on their family's journey and on the lives she has touched along the way.

Angie’s Journey to Teaching Kids with Special Needs

During our college days, Angie was pursuing a career in education, and as we studied together, I began to realize that her academic journey had been markedly different from mine. What came easily to me required an immense amount of effort on her part, and I was deeply impressed by her unwavering determination and discipline. She never gave up, even when faced with challenges that seemed insurmountable.

It wasn't until after she graduated that Angie received a diagnosis of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), and suddenly, everything clicked into place. It became clear why her academic path had been so extraordinarily challenging. The remarkable part of this story is how Angie went on to discover her true calling: teaching special education.

She found her passion in working with inner-city children who often had limited access to resources. Angie's patience and her unique ability to connect with her students have proven to be powerful tools in her role as a special education teacher. Her impact on the lives of these young individuals is truly inspiring and reflects her remarkable journey of perseverance and self-discovery.

Favorite Stories of Angie

Angie's dedication to her students and her profound care for their well-being are truly beyond words. Allow me to share a story from 2019 when we had planned a dinner celebration for her birthday. At the time, Angie had a student who had moved on to high school after being under her care in middle school. There was a crucial requirement for paperwork that would enable the student to continue receiving essential support in high school, similar to what he had received from Angie.

Despite numerous attempts and phone calls, Angie and her team had been unable to secure the necessary paperwork from the student's parents. The deadline for this paperwork happened to fall on a Friday, which was also the day of her birthday celebration. Instead of joining us for the festivities, Angie chose to leave school early to visit the student's home.

There, she discovered that the student's mother not only did not speak English but also did not know how to read. Undeterred by the complexity of the situation, Angie spent the entire evening with the student's mother. She engaged in heartfelt conversations about her son and listened to her life story. Angie even went a step further by dictating the required forms to her and filling them out based on her responses.

Thanks to Angie's selflessness, determination, and genuine compassion, this young student was able to continue his education into high school with the much-needed support he deserved. Angie's actions serve as a shining example of her incredible character and the profound impact she has on our community by dedicating herself to helping others every single day.

Second Major Fight Against Lupus

The first time I truly comprehended the gravity of Angie's illness was when she experienced a major Lupus flare-up after college. Once again, she embarked on a challenging journey of chemotherapy to combat the relentless assault on her own body. Witnessing someone go through chemotherapy for the first time was a gut-wrenching experience for me. The visible toll it took on her was heart wrenching, yet once again, Angie exhibited unwavering strength in the face of adversity.

Drawing from her prior experience with chemotherapy, she took the proactive step of cutting her beautiful hair. I kept my feelings to myself at the time, but internally, my heart ached for her. We affectionately referred to this phase as her "Halle Berry" phase :)

Despite her facial swelling caused by steroids, she remained remarkably strong and beautiful. Angie persevered through the treatments and emerged on the other side, but her kidneys bore the brunt of the damage and were marred by extensive scar tissue. She was only left with about 15% of healthy kidney function between both organs. It became painfully clear to all of us who loved her that she was living on borrowed time. Her kidneys would not survive a third major flare-up. This realization underscored the importance of filling her life with positivity and joy whenever possible, as we navigated the challenging road ahead alongside Angie.

Angie the Warrior

After Angie was in remission, Angie was determined to optimize her health. She made the bold decision to switch to a strict vegan diet in an effort to reduce inflammation in her body. Additionally, she set an ambitious goal for herself: to compete in a bodybuilding competition. I remember thinking that this goal was a commendable way to stay focused on her health journey, and I assured her that I wouldn't judge her if it didn't come to fruition.

However, on the day of the competition, I was absolutely dumbfounded by what I witnessed. As Angie took the stage and began her performance, I had to physically lift my jaw off the ground. I turned to her family and exclaimed that she had a real chance of winning the competition, and that's precisely what she did: First Place It was nothing short of incredible!

Angie's journey is a testament to her unwavering determination. Here was someone who emerged from chemotherapy and fought tooth and nail to overcome every obstacle in her path to achieve her goals. I had never been so profoundly inspired by anyone in my life, but that's simply who Angie is. How could I have ever doubted her? She continues to defy expectations and inspire us all with her strength and resilience.

Finding her Husband, Edson :)

Celebrating her restored health, Angie was blessed to reunite with her first love, from high school, Edson. Their journey together has been beautiful, marked by a shared love for large dogs and a commitment to rescuing animals. They decided to get married, with initial plans for a small, intimate ceremony and a grand wedding celebration to follow once they had purchased their first home.

In July of 2022, they finally achieved their dream when they bought a picturesque home in New Mexico, complete with a spacious yard for their cherished dogs to roam freely.

With her wedding dress purchased, we were all eagerly anticipating the chance to plan her dream wedding. However, life had yet another challenge in store for her....

Once more, Angie experienced a major health setback. Yet, this time, she has the greatest blessing of all—Edson. He has proven to be an exceptional and unwaveringly supportive husband, standing by her side with love and strength as they navigate this challenging journey together.

Third and Final Battle Against Lupus

Within a few months of settling into their new home, Angie's health took a sharp downturn. Her blood pressure soared, leading to an admission to the ER, where she received devastating news: her kidneys had reached their breaking point, and she was now in kidney failure. To survive, Angie needed to be placed on the organ transplant list. She was immediately put on dialysis (9.5 hours per night), a process where a machine would take over the role of her failing kidneys. However, the harsh reality was that finding a suitable kidney donor could take anywhere from 2 to 4 years.

For the first time, I saw Angie break down. She was relying on a machine to keep her alive and it hit me that each time I saw her could potentially be the last. The future appeared bleak, but in the midst of this overwhelming news, her sister Marlene, yet again, emerged as a beacon of hope.

Marlene (Mar) to the Rescue!

Despite residing in Baltimore for graduate school, Marlene wasted no time in flying to New Mexico as soon as she learned about her sister's kidney failure. The sheer determination she displayed to expedite Angie's kidney transplant was nothing short of remarkable. It's hard to comprehend the weight of receiving such life-altering news and the immense courage required to confront it head-on, but Marlene's unwavering commitment to securing a new kidney for her sister was truly awe-inspiring.

It was astonishing to witness Marlene's relentless focus on evaluating doctors to ensure Angie received the best possible care in New Mexico. From there, her drive to navigate the complex process of testing and evaluation, with its numerous steps and hurdles, was nothing short of relentless.

Finally, on Angie's birthday, August 30, 2023, Marlene reached out to the medical team, expressing that there could be no better birthday gift than the news of her kidney's approval as a match for Angie. Later that day, they received the life-changing call confirming that Marlene was approved to donate a kidney , with the possibility of the operation taking place as early as October 25th, coinciding with Angie's favorite holiday, Halloween.

This remarkable journey, driven by Marlene's unwavering support and love, is a testament to the extraordinary bond between these two sisters. Marlene's determination condensed what could have been a 2-4 year process into less than a year, highlighting the incredible lengths she was willing to go to give her a new kidney.

Funding

Our hope is to raise $75,000 in support of both Angie and Marlene to help cover various critical expenses, including:

Your generous contributions will make a significant difference in helping Angie and Marlene navigate this challenging journey, and we are deeply grateful for your support. Together, we can provide the vital assistance they need during this critical time.

Thank you!

If you've contributed even a single dollar or shared this story on their behalf, I am at a loss for words to express my profound gratitude. Angie and Marlene, both dedicated professionals in the fields of special education and healthcare, wholeheartedly deserve our support for their unwavering commitment to our children and ailing family members within our community.

Angie and Marlene, your love and care have touched us deeply, and we want to thank you for allowing us to share your inspiring story and for giving us the opportunity to give back to you both. Know that we believe in you wholeheartedly and stand by your side every step of the way on this journey. You are cherished, and your community, friends, and family are here to support you with boundless love and appreciation.