Please donate in memory of our sweet Raveena
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My cousin Raveena Blake passed away with us by her side on Saturday, September 30th, after fighting for her life for many years. She was 29. She was the light of our family, and these funds will help pay for the funeral costs this coming weekend.
Raveena was born on November 12, 1993, in Patna, India. She was adopted by the late Elise C. (Anderson) Blake and Daniel C. Blake, Sr. at the age of one. For two years, Elise and Dan did everything they could to get their little girl to America. During this time, she was cared for at “Aashirwad” Society for Indian Children’s Welfare in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India. Her parents and family were blessed to have her arrive in America at the age of 3.
Raveena was a gentle, compassionate, and loving soul. She was a very empathetic child. Growing up she always wanted to take care of everyone, especially family. Family meant everything to her. At the age of 10, Raveena was diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure that occurs in the blood vessels of the lungs. The right side of her heart was not capable of pumping against such high pressure. She fought for 20 years to be here with us. The only way she could receive the mediation she needed was through a portable pump that delivered the meds via a central catheter (Groshong). Her mom and her spent months to years in and out of the hospital throughout her entire life. Elise did not stop until she got her in the best hands, and she was by her side every step of the way. Those hands were all the wonderful doctors and nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Iriving Medical Center, especially Erika Berman Rosenzweig, M.D. Thank you all for your years of dedication to our girl.
With a strong desire to comfort anyone in need, she became a personal care aide with health care agencies in the area for many years. She created long lasting loving relationships with her patients, and she loved her job.
Raveena had a unique and difficult journey, but she was a fighter and a force. With the support of her family and the hard work they were doing at Columbia, together they we’re able to surpass her life expectancy by many years. Her condition restricted her from sports, swimming and the list goes on. She lost her mother at 23. Despite this, Raveena always remained the gentle, compassionate, and loving soul that she was. Of course, there were her hard days but all she ever did was give out positivity and tenderness to this world. She had a such calming energy to her when on the inside she was dying. She was a warrior with a warm and welcoming smile. An inspiration to anyone who was lucky enough to have known her.
Against all odds, she lived a beautiful life. She lived life to the fullest and she never stopped fighting. Her dreams were to one day travel to India to find some of her roots and her biological mother. She taught everyone around her so much about life and never took anything for granted. She will be deeply missed by friends and family who will continue to honor her and her loving spirit.
We love you Raveena!
Organizer
Taylor Rae
Organizer
Sloatsburg, NY