Good day, everyone. I’m organizing this GoFundMe on behalf of my sister, Kathrina Albano, for her daughter, Tatiana Reese “Yana” Albano, who is 15 years old. Yana was diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis on October 21, 2025. Since then, she has required ICU care, faced pneumonia, and continues to need ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, and support that aren’t fully covered by insurance. While some initial medical costs have been paid, the journey ahead will require help for treatments such as Rituximab, ongoing therapy, equipment, and home adaptations to restore Yana’s health and future. Yana is a creative artist and an aspiring computer engineer, and we want to give her every opportunity to pursue her passions. Any donation, large or small, even a single cent will be a tremendous help. Sharing her story with others would also mean a great deal and helps lessen our family’s financial challenge while keeping hope alive during this challenging time. God bless you.

THIS IS MY SISTER’S STORY..

Hi everyone, my name is Kathrina Albano, a single and full-time mom, and I truly appreciate you taking a moment to read my story. I’m writing to you today with a heavy heart but unwavering hope for my daughter Tatiana Reese. We call her Yana.

On October 21st, 2025, she was diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis — a rare condition we never imagined would touch our lives. This is a serious autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks NMDA receptors in the brain. These receptors are like tiny “switches” that control memory, mood, movement, and consciousness. When they’re damaged, symptoms can come on suddenly: confusion, seizures, memory loss, trouble speaking, and in severe cases, coma. It’s not cancer or genetic — it’s the body’s own defense system turning against itself, requiring urgent, specialized care.

Since her diagnosis, she has been in intensive care, steroids, and medications to calm her immune system. Unfortunately, from her time in the hospital, she has contracted pneumonia. Now she’s fighting two battles at once: one for her brain, and one for her lungs.

Anyone who knows Yana, a creative soul who loves to draw and is a true artist. Her sketchbook was always full of colorful characters, beautiful landscapes, and little doodles that captured the joy she saw in the world. She also dreams to be a computer engineer someday. 

Watching her struggle to breathe, to recognize us, to find her way back to herself has been the most painful thing our family has ever endured.

The medical costs are overwhelming. Being in the ICU for more than 2 months now, having to undergo specialized treatments, respiratory care, and future rehabilitation, we’re struggling to keep up. Just as we were starting to see small signs of progress, we hit a devastating roadblock: the specialty medicine called Rituximab that’s critical for treating her anti-NMDAR encephalitis is far beyond what we can afford. This medication is designed to target the immune response attacking her brain — it’s not an optional treatment, but the key to stopping the damage and giving her a chance to recover fully. Without it, her progress could stall or reverse, and the risk of long-term complications rises sharply.

 We never wanted to ask for help, but we know we can’t do this alone. 

 Every donation — no matter how small — will go directly to covering her medication and care, giving her the best chance at getting back to her joyful, vibrant self — pencil in hand, creating art that lights up our world. 

Thank you for reading our story, sharing it with others, and for any support you can offer. Your kindness is a light in our darkest days. God bless everyone..