My name is Veronica Maio. I am Mirna Salamanques's daughter. I am currently based in the United States while my brother, Humberto Salamanques is in Venezuela. After an urgent home visit due to extreme dehydration and sharp pain my mother was admitted into an urgent care and was diagnosed with Myelodysplatic Syndrome. After several blood transfusions from generous donors, we have been able to perform the necessary measures to help balance the hemoglobin levels. She is in immense pain due to her body becoming immunocompromised and is unable to be fit to perform a necessary bone marrow biopsy. The syndrome has manifested into unfathomable sharp pain all over her body (specifically her legs, chest, and skin) and mass infection that have reached her lungs, kidneys and spleen. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myelodysplastic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20366977 

Mirna Salamanques is a contemporary Venezuelan artist who began her career in the art world in 1962. Her works span the usage of a variety of paint mediums (acrylic, oil, and spray paint) which also manifested to become her emblematic period. One of her works became inducted to the permanent collection belonging to the Paris Museum of Modern Art. Her exposure to spray paint and other mediums lasted about 10-15 years and has been deduced by doctors in Venezuela to be the cause of Myelodysplastic Syndrome. 


Mirna needs our help since so many of you have manifested how to support her in the midst of this crisis not to mention the timing of a world pandemic in an already disaster stricken Venezuela, where not even the basic human right to life and safety are met. Due to hyperinflation in Venezuela, ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperinflation_in_Venezuela, medicine shortages https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/04/04/venezuelas-humanitarian-emergency/large-scale-un-response-needed-address-health  and the abrupt increases of cargo prices as a result of COVID-19, it has been a grueling, difficult and taxing process to achieve the necessary medical care that would otherwise be seamless and accessible. 



Infinite gratitude to all of you for all the manifestations of love and support that have been sent to my brother (who is fortunately by Mirna's side in Venezuela). 
I can proudly say that my mother, remains in optimistic and charismatic spirits.  All of you who know Mirna have been touched by her endless optimism and generosity to help in any way she can to others. She has a lot of years left to share with all the people who love
her and to continue making each life she touches a little brighter. Thank you.