Melinda's Access to Oxygen
Donation protected
I come to you on behalf of this woman; my mother and best friend, Melinda.
She is a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a friend to many. I, along with my three brothers, have been fortunate enough to have the honor to call this woman our mother. She has instilled nothing but positive and loving thoughts, values, and morals in us, and we will never be able to thank her for all she has provided us with; but I'm hoping that this is a start.
In May of 2015 my mother was diagnosed with Idopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is the scarring of lung tissue which causes shortness of breath. It is also chronic and ultimately fatal. Once someone is diagnosed with IPF they are estimated to have approximately 3 to 5 years to live. This disease is also unfortunately one that can not be cured. The treatment given to a patient with IPF will only hope to reduce the symptoms, slow down the diseases progress, and prolong survival.
Since her diagnosis my mother has begun using an oxygen tank for daily activities. Anything that is remotely active can cause her oxygen levels to fall rapidly. It is then that she is required to use her oxygen tank to bring her levels back up to normal. She is attending a physical therapy class twice a week which monitors her oxygen levels while having her do simple physical activities. While sleeping she must use her tank the entire night in case her lungs fail her at any point. What were once simple activities that were given little to no thought, are now things that she must give attention and importance to. Walking for too long at one time, climbing stairs, or even household chores. Things I once took for granted are now a challenge for her.
I live in South Korea, a long ways away from my mother in Michigan. I have been abroad since before I found out about her diagnosis and it breaks my heart that I'm not able to be with her at the moment. It is scary to see how her disease has progressed in the little time since she has been diagnosed. I video chat with her daily and I've watched as she has had to stop what she is doing, sit down, and take a few minutes to connect herself to her oxygen tank just so that she can continue a conversation. I will be reunited with her in a few short months, but even then, I wish there were more I could do, which is why I am reaching out and asking for help.
In order for my mother to do most physical activities, or to sleep, she needs to have an oxygen tank at her disposal. If she has the desire to go anywhere prolonged away from her home she must have a portable tank. A vacation would require her to obtain a special tank that is allowed onto airplanes. The tank can provide her with an endless supply of oxygen via battery packs, or charging with an electrical plug. However, each time she needs one it must be rented from a medical company & she is charged per week. Through recent conversations with my mother I have found out that she could own a tank of her own. Owning her own portable tank would allow her to move about and travel with much more ease, and eventually would save her money. Since I have become aware of this I have made it a priority to save what I can in order to help her purchase her own portable tank. Living abroad and alone makes it a bit more difficult for me to save all the money she needs, which is why I'm asking for help. Any donation you would be willing to give would go directly to the purchase of my mother's portable oxygen tank and the battery packs needed for charging the tank.
The estimated life expectancy given with this disease is much smaller than anyone would ever wish on a loved one. I only hope to fill the time we have left together with as many positive memories as possible. This tank would help me to do that.
To anyone who donates, I thank you in advance. You can not begin to understand the gratitude I feel and happiness it brings me that there are people like you that are kind enough to help. I am grateful for you and will never be able to thank you enough.
She is a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a friend to many. I, along with my three brothers, have been fortunate enough to have the honor to call this woman our mother. She has instilled nothing but positive and loving thoughts, values, and morals in us, and we will never be able to thank her for all she has provided us with; but I'm hoping that this is a start.
In May of 2015 my mother was diagnosed with Idopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is the scarring of lung tissue which causes shortness of breath. It is also chronic and ultimately fatal. Once someone is diagnosed with IPF they are estimated to have approximately 3 to 5 years to live. This disease is also unfortunately one that can not be cured. The treatment given to a patient with IPF will only hope to reduce the symptoms, slow down the diseases progress, and prolong survival.
Since her diagnosis my mother has begun using an oxygen tank for daily activities. Anything that is remotely active can cause her oxygen levels to fall rapidly. It is then that she is required to use her oxygen tank to bring her levels back up to normal. She is attending a physical therapy class twice a week which monitors her oxygen levels while having her do simple physical activities. While sleeping she must use her tank the entire night in case her lungs fail her at any point. What were once simple activities that were given little to no thought, are now things that she must give attention and importance to. Walking for too long at one time, climbing stairs, or even household chores. Things I once took for granted are now a challenge for her.
I live in South Korea, a long ways away from my mother in Michigan. I have been abroad since before I found out about her diagnosis and it breaks my heart that I'm not able to be with her at the moment. It is scary to see how her disease has progressed in the little time since she has been diagnosed. I video chat with her daily and I've watched as she has had to stop what she is doing, sit down, and take a few minutes to connect herself to her oxygen tank just so that she can continue a conversation. I will be reunited with her in a few short months, but even then, I wish there were more I could do, which is why I am reaching out and asking for help.
In order for my mother to do most physical activities, or to sleep, she needs to have an oxygen tank at her disposal. If she has the desire to go anywhere prolonged away from her home she must have a portable tank. A vacation would require her to obtain a special tank that is allowed onto airplanes. The tank can provide her with an endless supply of oxygen via battery packs, or charging with an electrical plug. However, each time she needs one it must be rented from a medical company & she is charged per week. Through recent conversations with my mother I have found out that she could own a tank of her own. Owning her own portable tank would allow her to move about and travel with much more ease, and eventually would save her money. Since I have become aware of this I have made it a priority to save what I can in order to help her purchase her own portable tank. Living abroad and alone makes it a bit more difficult for me to save all the money she needs, which is why I'm asking for help. Any donation you would be willing to give would go directly to the purchase of my mother's portable oxygen tank and the battery packs needed for charging the tank.
The estimated life expectancy given with this disease is much smaller than anyone would ever wish on a loved one. I only hope to fill the time we have left together with as many positive memories as possible. This tank would help me to do that.
To anyone who donates, I thank you in advance. You can not begin to understand the gratitude I feel and happiness it brings me that there are people like you that are kind enough to help. I am grateful for you and will never be able to thank you enough.
Organizer and beneficiary
Krystal Rivera
Organizer
Dearborn Heights, MI
Krystal Rivera
Beneficiary