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(Para versión en español ir al Primer UPDATE)
My name is Elizabeth Valbuena, and I`m creating this campaign on behalf of my niece, Carla Valbuena.
Beforehand, thank you and #helpspreadtheword. This is her story:
Hello my name is Carla Valbuena, I am a 38 year old woman, Venezuelan, whom life has put a difficult test to face. On November 22, 2016 I was diagnosed with cancer, specifically a high grade abdominal leiomyosarcoma.
About me...
I am a plastic surgeon, Alberto`s wife and a mother of a 3-year-old girl named Leticia (the light of my eyes!) My career was always fundamental in my life… it was my passion. However, when I met my husband, I felt that it was the right moment to start my most important project, and so we brought to this world my first great love, Leticia. 3 years later, we decided to look for our next child... but our plans changed overnight.
I am a dynamic woman and always love having a new project. Until October 2016 I was completing a chef program with my husband; I was finishing a portuguese course (I had 2 months more left in order to graduate), and I was preparing for the TOEFL, because we wanted to move to Canada, to have new experiences and to stablish our home in a country that would provide us with other opportunities.
This is my story…
During my annual routine check-ups, in order to be ready to search for our second baby, precisely on the day that I was doing my breast ultrasound (because I was still breastfeeding my daughter), I asked my colleague to check my uterus with the ultrasound equipment. An image appeared and the doctor asked to evaluate it with an MRI. To our surprise, the results confirmed that I had a tumor and had to have an immediate surgery.
Therefore, on Tuesday November 22, 2016 I had to undergo surgery, and that day God changed my life plans. The doctors had to practice a hysterectomy, take out my ovaries, the uterus. They had to remove part of my intestine and my appendix as well, due to the fact that the biopsy showed that it was a leiomyosarcoma with metastasis. These were days of great anguish and worry, while we awaited the results of the definitive biopsy, both for myself and my family, as a doctor I understood how risky my situation was.
During these days, many times I asked God to send me any type of cancer, one that was more bearable but not a sarcoma, because I had knowledge of what this meant. However, the results confirmed the worst, the presence of a sarcoma.
The curability options of this type of cancer are of 90% as long as there is an optimal surgery; that means that there are no remains left of the tumor anywhere. Other treatments such as chemotherapy are mandatory in all cases. Usually these type of tumors are diagnosed when they are very advanced, since they do not present symptoms.
I definitely consider that God has given me a second chance, due to the fact that I had surgery on time, which is not frequent with this type of tumors. Usually they are not surgical. They usually have a large size and when people go see their doctors, and it is mainly for secondary reasons related to the tumor. In my case it measured 10 cm, which is a small measure for this type of cancer. However it proved to be aggressive, since it presented metastasis all around.
I had health insurance that I obtained through the Federación Médica Venezolana (Venezuelan Medical Federation) because of being a doctor. This federation gave us options and privileges, which I had used before and had had always a good experience with. Recently they changed our insurance company from Seguros Caroní to Seguros Universitas, and I accepted it because I was interested in keeping the seniority of my previous insurance policy in order to cover the next procedure. Unfortunately my coverage for the surgery went from being Bs. 2.000.000 (approximately $575.00) to Bs. 1.600.000 ($457.00). Even though my doctors exonerated their medical fees, and I still had to pay a difference of Bs. 3.600.000 ($1,029.00), because the type of surgery I needed was now different. Since the tumor presented metastasis in my intestine, the surgery required the use of another type of stitches, equipment that is much more expensive, among other things. As for right now, I am left with no coverage.
Throughout this process I have experienced mourning in several different ways. In the first place I have seen my greatest dream disappear, which was to have more children, and to give Leti some siblings. On the other hand, I´ve had to internalize the fact that I´m sick, and not only that, but more importantly, that my life is in danger. Sadness and anguish have often been a witness to my deepest fears. Just imagining that I might not be there for my husband, but especially for my daughter when she needs me, when she feels sick, when she´ll have her first communion, when she turns 15, when she´ll have her first boyfriend, when she gets married, It deeply scares me, but it makes me want to fight harder because I´m convinced that this has a solution.
It is for all this that I come to you, trusting your goodwill, since the road that I have to overpass is very long. The treatments are extremely expensive and I do not have the resources to pay them all. I thank everyone for their prayers and unconditional support. As we observe how God's plan for me manifests, I continue to struggle without rest, giving you my smile, which characterizes me and will always remain despite any difficulties that may arise.
#helpspreadtheword
#prayersforcarla
My name is Elizabeth Valbuena, and I`m creating this campaign on behalf of my niece, Carla Valbuena.
Beforehand, thank you and #helpspreadtheword. This is her story:Hello my name is Carla Valbuena, I am a 38 year old woman, Venezuelan, whom life has put a difficult test to face. On November 22, 2016 I was diagnosed with cancer, specifically a high grade abdominal leiomyosarcoma.
About me...
I am a plastic surgeon, Alberto`s wife and a mother of a 3-year-old girl named Leticia (the light of my eyes!) My career was always fundamental in my life… it was my passion. However, when I met my husband, I felt that it was the right moment to start my most important project, and so we brought to this world my first great love, Leticia. 3 years later, we decided to look for our next child... but our plans changed overnight.
I am a dynamic woman and always love having a new project. Until October 2016 I was completing a chef program with my husband; I was finishing a portuguese course (I had 2 months more left in order to graduate), and I was preparing for the TOEFL, because we wanted to move to Canada, to have new experiences and to stablish our home in a country that would provide us with other opportunities.
This is my story…
During my annual routine check-ups, in order to be ready to search for our second baby, precisely on the day that I was doing my breast ultrasound (because I was still breastfeeding my daughter), I asked my colleague to check my uterus with the ultrasound equipment. An image appeared and the doctor asked to evaluate it with an MRI. To our surprise, the results confirmed that I had a tumor and had to have an immediate surgery.
Therefore, on Tuesday November 22, 2016 I had to undergo surgery, and that day God changed my life plans. The doctors had to practice a hysterectomy, take out my ovaries, the uterus. They had to remove part of my intestine and my appendix as well, due to the fact that the biopsy showed that it was a leiomyosarcoma with metastasis. These were days of great anguish and worry, while we awaited the results of the definitive biopsy, both for myself and my family, as a doctor I understood how risky my situation was.
During these days, many times I asked God to send me any type of cancer, one that was more bearable but not a sarcoma, because I had knowledge of what this meant. However, the results confirmed the worst, the presence of a sarcoma.
The curability options of this type of cancer are of 90% as long as there is an optimal surgery; that means that there are no remains left of the tumor anywhere. Other treatments such as chemotherapy are mandatory in all cases. Usually these type of tumors are diagnosed when they are very advanced, since they do not present symptoms.
I definitely consider that God has given me a second chance, due to the fact that I had surgery on time, which is not frequent with this type of tumors. Usually they are not surgical. They usually have a large size and when people go see their doctors, and it is mainly for secondary reasons related to the tumor. In my case it measured 10 cm, which is a small measure for this type of cancer. However it proved to be aggressive, since it presented metastasis all around.
I had health insurance that I obtained through the Federación Médica Venezolana (Venezuelan Medical Federation) because of being a doctor. This federation gave us options and privileges, which I had used before and had had always a good experience with. Recently they changed our insurance company from Seguros Caroní to Seguros Universitas, and I accepted it because I was interested in keeping the seniority of my previous insurance policy in order to cover the next procedure. Unfortunately my coverage for the surgery went from being Bs. 2.000.000 (approximately $575.00) to Bs. 1.600.000 ($457.00). Even though my doctors exonerated their medical fees, and I still had to pay a difference of Bs. 3.600.000 ($1,029.00), because the type of surgery I needed was now different. Since the tumor presented metastasis in my intestine, the surgery required the use of another type of stitches, equipment that is much more expensive, among other things. As for right now, I am left with no coverage.
Throughout this process I have experienced mourning in several different ways. In the first place I have seen my greatest dream disappear, which was to have more children, and to give Leti some siblings. On the other hand, I´ve had to internalize the fact that I´m sick, and not only that, but more importantly, that my life is in danger. Sadness and anguish have often been a witness to my deepest fears. Just imagining that I might not be there for my husband, but especially for my daughter when she needs me, when she feels sick, when she´ll have her first communion, when she turns 15, when she´ll have her first boyfriend, when she gets married, It deeply scares me, but it makes me want to fight harder because I´m convinced that this has a solution.
It is for all this that I come to you, trusting your goodwill, since the road that I have to overpass is very long. The treatments are extremely expensive and I do not have the resources to pay them all. I thank everyone for their prayers and unconditional support. As we observe how God's plan for me manifests, I continue to struggle without rest, giving you my smile, which characterizes me and will always remain despite any difficulties that may arise.
#helpspreadtheword
#prayersforcarla