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This is Valentina. She is a 17 year old freshman college student from Caracas Venezuela that I have been privileged to meet and know her and her mother Nair. I visited Valentina while she was hospitalized at Shiners Hospital for Children in Boston ,MA back in April of 2018. Her story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. This year, I will be 31 and for my birthday I am asking only to receive gifts in efforts to make Valentina's Christmas special. I hope that after reading her story you too will be inspired to make this young woman's holiday.
Valentina broke up with her boyfriend a few months after dating. After many failed attempts to contact Valentina he became more and more angry. On January 18, 2018 this sweet, beautiful, intelligent young woman became a victim of a horrific act of domestic violence. Her ex-boyfriend and one of his friends broke into Valentina's family home and forever changed her life. Valentina was home alone waiting for her mother to come home from work when the two young men broke into the home with intentions to kill Valentina. The two men tied her hands and feet together and blind folded her as she fought, begged and pleaded for them to set her free. Her ex-boyfriend repeatedly struck Valentina in the head with a hammer knocking her unconscious. The two young men continued to beat and rape Valentina. After assuming she was dead, they pour gasoline over Valentina and set her on fire. Valentina woke from the excruciating pain and was able to crawl to the kitchen sink and put out the flames.
Her mother came home from work about an hour later to find neighbors and friends trying to save Valentina's life. She was brought to one of Venezuela's emergency department where doctors explained to her mother and father that she had less than a 3% chance of surviving the attack. She suffered 3rd degree burns on 80% of her body, and coded multiple times. She was placed on a ventilator, rushed into emergency surgery where they tried their best to save her life with limited supplies, medications and resources. Surgeons removed portions of her left hand, breast and ears. Due to the political corruption in Venezuela, the hospital lacked, proper medications and supplies leaving Nair to be Valentina's primary care taker while being in the hospital. She was instructed to "clean" the burns with diluted bleach water to prevent infections and doctors injected egg whites to "promote" wound heal and tissue repair.
Valentina's family knew that if she stayed in Venezuela, she would die. Her cousins, friends and family began contacting radio stations, news stations, wrote her story on social media and letters to children hospitals all over the united states begging for someone to help Valentina. Her family knew she needed proper medical care if they wanted her to live. Finally, Shiners Hospital for Children in Boston, MA offered to help bring Valentina to the United States and help her. On March 14, 2018 Valentina and her mother Nair boarded a medical jet and flew to Boston from Venezuela. She has endured multiple surgeries including skin grafting, tracheostomy placements, hand, neck and facial reconstruction. She has recently been discharged from the hospital but still has a very long journey ahead her.
She continues physical and occupational therapy to regain strength, and use of her hands. Valentina Has endured more physical and emotional pain than any other 17 year old girl I know. As a 30 year old women I am learning that although most not as severe as Valentina's story a large majority of women experience some form of domestic abuse before 30 years old. My birthday wish this year is that EVERYONE that reads Valentina's story will donate to this GoFundMe to help me make this Christmas the best Christmas for Valentina!
Valentina broke up with her boyfriend a few months after dating. After many failed attempts to contact Valentina he became more and more angry. On January 18, 2018 this sweet, beautiful, intelligent young woman became a victim of a horrific act of domestic violence. Her ex-boyfriend and one of his friends broke into Valentina's family home and forever changed her life. Valentina was home alone waiting for her mother to come home from work when the two young men broke into the home with intentions to kill Valentina. The two men tied her hands and feet together and blind folded her as she fought, begged and pleaded for them to set her free. Her ex-boyfriend repeatedly struck Valentina in the head with a hammer knocking her unconscious. The two young men continued to beat and rape Valentina. After assuming she was dead, they pour gasoline over Valentina and set her on fire. Valentina woke from the excruciating pain and was able to crawl to the kitchen sink and put out the flames.
Her mother came home from work about an hour later to find neighbors and friends trying to save Valentina's life. She was brought to one of Venezuela's emergency department where doctors explained to her mother and father that she had less than a 3% chance of surviving the attack. She suffered 3rd degree burns on 80% of her body, and coded multiple times. She was placed on a ventilator, rushed into emergency surgery where they tried their best to save her life with limited supplies, medications and resources. Surgeons removed portions of her left hand, breast and ears. Due to the political corruption in Venezuela, the hospital lacked, proper medications and supplies leaving Nair to be Valentina's primary care taker while being in the hospital. She was instructed to "clean" the burns with diluted bleach water to prevent infections and doctors injected egg whites to "promote" wound heal and tissue repair.
Valentina's family knew that if she stayed in Venezuela, she would die. Her cousins, friends and family began contacting radio stations, news stations, wrote her story on social media and letters to children hospitals all over the united states begging for someone to help Valentina. Her family knew she needed proper medical care if they wanted her to live. Finally, Shiners Hospital for Children in Boston, MA offered to help bring Valentina to the United States and help her. On March 14, 2018 Valentina and her mother Nair boarded a medical jet and flew to Boston from Venezuela. She has endured multiple surgeries including skin grafting, tracheostomy placements, hand, neck and facial reconstruction. She has recently been discharged from the hospital but still has a very long journey ahead her.
She continues physical and occupational therapy to regain strength, and use of her hands. Valentina Has endured more physical and emotional pain than any other 17 year old girl I know. As a 30 year old women I am learning that although most not as severe as Valentina's story a large majority of women experience some form of domestic abuse before 30 years old. My birthday wish this year is that EVERYONE that reads Valentina's story will donate to this GoFundMe to help me make this Christmas the best Christmas for Valentina!
Organizer
Christina Burns
Organizer
Holtsville, NY