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Manuela, or as we all lovingly call her, Manu, came to the United States on December 2018 on an exchange year from Colombia to become an Au-Pair. We had the pleasure of hosting her for a year as she inevitably became part of our family. Even though I am no longer her host mom, I still feel the need to care for her - just as she took care of my own.
Manu is a happy young lady (only 24), filled with energy and a natural love for life and kids! She is always cheerful and smiling, willing to help anyone that needs it - and she will do it with her whole heart. No words can ever express how happy I am to have her be a part of our lives and to be able to call her one of my best friends.
After finishing her exchange year in 2019, she returned as a tourist to visit and study English as a second language. Because of the pandemic, the borders to Colombia closed and she was no longer able to return to her home country.
About a week ago she started presenting some disturbing symptoms: coughing up blood, having excessive night sweats, chest pain and incessant coughing. Once we saw the blood, we knew something wasn't right. I took her to the Emergency Room and she was admitted to the hospital. We thought she would get an X-ray taken and be sent home. Little did we know she would be isolated and hospitalized for much longer. She got tested for Covid-19 twice, being that the doctors saw such trauma in her lungs as if she had the virus. Both times it came back negative. The doctors believed she had pneumonia. - wrong again. The wait for the results were nerve-wrecking. After 4 days of total anxiety, it was ultimately confirmed that she had pulmonary tuberculosis.
The treatment is long and tedious: 10 pills a day (every single day) for a total of 9 months. What was supposed to be a 3 month visit has now turned into the unknown. She will now be faced with hospital bills, medication to combat the side effects of her treatment, immigration fees in order to remain legal in the country and eventually a humanitarian flight to be able to return back home to her family in Medellin. Needless to say, she needs to focus on her health and on her health only in order to recover.
If there is anything you could contribute in order to help a wonderful girl out, please do so! No amount or gesture is too small. If there is any other way you wish to help other than financially, please let me know. We thank you all for taking the time to read Manu's journey to recovery.
Manu is a happy young lady (only 24), filled with energy and a natural love for life and kids! She is always cheerful and smiling, willing to help anyone that needs it - and she will do it with her whole heart. No words can ever express how happy I am to have her be a part of our lives and to be able to call her one of my best friends.
After finishing her exchange year in 2019, she returned as a tourist to visit and study English as a second language. Because of the pandemic, the borders to Colombia closed and she was no longer able to return to her home country.
About a week ago she started presenting some disturbing symptoms: coughing up blood, having excessive night sweats, chest pain and incessant coughing. Once we saw the blood, we knew something wasn't right. I took her to the Emergency Room and she was admitted to the hospital. We thought she would get an X-ray taken and be sent home. Little did we know she would be isolated and hospitalized for much longer. She got tested for Covid-19 twice, being that the doctors saw such trauma in her lungs as if she had the virus. Both times it came back negative. The doctors believed she had pneumonia. - wrong again. The wait for the results were nerve-wrecking. After 4 days of total anxiety, it was ultimately confirmed that she had pulmonary tuberculosis.
The treatment is long and tedious: 10 pills a day (every single day) for a total of 9 months. What was supposed to be a 3 month visit has now turned into the unknown. She will now be faced with hospital bills, medication to combat the side effects of her treatment, immigration fees in order to remain legal in the country and eventually a humanitarian flight to be able to return back home to her family in Medellin. Needless to say, she needs to focus on her health and on her health only in order to recover.
If there is anything you could contribute in order to help a wonderful girl out, please do so! No amount or gesture is too small. If there is any other way you wish to help other than financially, please let me know. We thank you all for taking the time to read Manu's journey to recovery.