Help Athena Fight Lupus & Kidney Disease: A Husband’s Plea

Dear friends and kind strangers,

My name is Romel, and I am writing to you about my wife, Athena—an incredibly kind, beautiful, and friendly person. Athena has always been known for her bright, welcoming smile, and it breaks my heart to see her going through the pain she’s facing now.

Athena was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), also known as Lupus. We managed it with regular checkups, steroids, and occasional flare-ups, but in August, things began to change. Athena’s kidney function started to decline, and we noticed swelling in her feet. While it initially seemed manageable, our GP’s recommendation to see a specialist revealed the extent of the damage.

On 2nd December this year, we admitted Athena to the hospital, and what followed has been a whirlwind of tests, treatments, and uncertainty. After undergoing a kidney biopsy, we learned that half of her kidneys were scarred, and the rest were swelling due to Lupus activity. To fight the disease, Athena was put on a strong chemotherapy drug, Cyclophosphamide, but despite this, her condition worsened, and she required temporary dialysis.

Athena is now in her fourth round of Dialysis, with weekly hospital visits, and will need six more sessions with Chemotherapy drug. We are hopeful for full recovery, but the road ahead is long and uncertain. We’re also facing substantial medical expenses. As we don’t have Medicare and I’m currently on a student visa here in Australia, our private insurance may not fully cover her month-long hospital stay. Additionally, the medications she needs are not covered and must be paid for upfront.

With rent, bills, and ongoing medical costs, we are struggling to keep up. Athena may also need to take time off work for her recovery, which will further strain our finances. We’re reaching out for help to raise the funds we need to sustain us in the coming months as we navigate this challenging time.

Your support, no matter how small, will help us cover medical bills, medications, and living expenses while Athena focuses on her recovery. We are holding on to hope that with your kindness, she will soon be able to smile again, as she always has.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story. Your care and support mean the world to us.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Romel and Athena

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