A Recipe for Veronica's Purpura
Donation protected
Dear friends and family,
I have started this fundraiser for my sis-in-law Veronica. She is not only my dear friend and sister, (married to my brother Eddy) but she is also an amazing mother of two girls, and an awesome Chef. If you could just taste her bread...
Veronica has an autoinmune disorder called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Took me years to remember the name, which is now commonly known as Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) . For us in the family, it's just her "Purpura". We've learned to live with it as a family. When she gets a crisis, her skin shows purple/pinkish dots which are the indication that her plateles are going down the drain. Fatigue starts, bed, extra care, blood tests, followed by dr. visits.
In medical terms, Purpura is an hematologic disorder where your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the platelets, which are cell fragments that help your blood clot. Normal platelet levels in adults should be between 150,000 and 450,000/mm3. Anything below 50,000 mm3 can increase the risk of dangerous bleeding from trauma; anything below 20,000/mm3 can increase the risk of spontaneous bleeding. Few weeks ago Vero's platelets were at the lowest 11,000!
Veronica's ITP started in December 2012. Since then, it has 'surfaced' every 2 years on-off, and more recently every year. The normal course is to take corticosteroids, which are harsh to your system. Over the years, the regular medications have no longer been effective. Drs. have now recommended to REMOVE her SPLEEN. Ordinarily I would've titled this fundraiser "Saving Vero's Spleen", usually one tries to save the organ. But in this case unfortunately, the best prognosis is a spelenctomy and learn to live without an organ that most of us take for granted. The Spleen fights infections like Pneumonia and the Flu, and acts as a filter for the blood (where old red blood cells are recycled), and platelets and white blood cells are stored. For Vero, it's just not functioning; removal of the spleen will reduce platelet destruction. It is her best option now to increase her low platelet levels.
Just to add a little flavor to this recipe, imagine dealing with this condition in VENEZUELA. As you know, there is a humanitarian crisis going on, affecting millions of venezuelans. Veronica and her family, my family, are now one of the many affected by a broken health system. Every time Vero has a crisis we run around the city, Whatsapp groups, friends, relatives trying to find the medication she needs. To top it off, her health insurance dropped her, and would only cover up to Bs. 800,000. Do you know what that covers in a country with one of the highest inflation rates? Not even admission to emergency care. (So you get a sense, as of today, end of may 2019, it's not even $130!) My brother Eddy is not currently working, as there are no jobs for an Architect. For Vero, as a Chef, even baking cookies is not an option due to the risks, given her low platelet levels. They have managed when she is well (don't ask me how), finding ways to make ends meet, and to get food on the table. This Spelenctomy however, is another story.
I am asking for your generosity to donate to this fund for Veronica's Spelenectomy in a private hospital. The net cost is about USD 5,000, including doctors fees. I am asking for an additional $2000 for pre and post-op medications, vaccines, follow-up visits, and to help them get back on their feet. We must hurry, as every moment of delay increases costs due to inflation rates, and she needs the operation as soon as her platelets go up.
I will be eternally grateful, and will be sending updates as we move along. Like you, I can only follow from abroad, as I am unable to fly to Caracas the moment.
Gracias y un abrazo.
I have started this fundraiser for my sis-in-law Veronica. She is not only my dear friend and sister, (married to my brother Eddy) but she is also an amazing mother of two girls, and an awesome Chef. If you could just taste her bread...
Veronica has an autoinmune disorder called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Took me years to remember the name, which is now commonly known as Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) . For us in the family, it's just her "Purpura". We've learned to live with it as a family. When she gets a crisis, her skin shows purple/pinkish dots which are the indication that her plateles are going down the drain. Fatigue starts, bed, extra care, blood tests, followed by dr. visits.
In medical terms, Purpura is an hematologic disorder where your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the platelets, which are cell fragments that help your blood clot. Normal platelet levels in adults should be between 150,000 and 450,000/mm3. Anything below 50,000 mm3 can increase the risk of dangerous bleeding from trauma; anything below 20,000/mm3 can increase the risk of spontaneous bleeding. Few weeks ago Vero's platelets were at the lowest 11,000!
Veronica's ITP started in December 2012. Since then, it has 'surfaced' every 2 years on-off, and more recently every year. The normal course is to take corticosteroids, which are harsh to your system. Over the years, the regular medications have no longer been effective. Drs. have now recommended to REMOVE her SPLEEN. Ordinarily I would've titled this fundraiser "Saving Vero's Spleen", usually one tries to save the organ. But in this case unfortunately, the best prognosis is a spelenctomy and learn to live without an organ that most of us take for granted. The Spleen fights infections like Pneumonia and the Flu, and acts as a filter for the blood (where old red blood cells are recycled), and platelets and white blood cells are stored. For Vero, it's just not functioning; removal of the spleen will reduce platelet destruction. It is her best option now to increase her low platelet levels.
Just to add a little flavor to this recipe, imagine dealing with this condition in VENEZUELA. As you know, there is a humanitarian crisis going on, affecting millions of venezuelans. Veronica and her family, my family, are now one of the many affected by a broken health system. Every time Vero has a crisis we run around the city, Whatsapp groups, friends, relatives trying to find the medication she needs. To top it off, her health insurance dropped her, and would only cover up to Bs. 800,000. Do you know what that covers in a country with one of the highest inflation rates? Not even admission to emergency care. (So you get a sense, as of today, end of may 2019, it's not even $130!) My brother Eddy is not currently working, as there are no jobs for an Architect. For Vero, as a Chef, even baking cookies is not an option due to the risks, given her low platelet levels. They have managed when she is well (don't ask me how), finding ways to make ends meet, and to get food on the table. This Spelenctomy however, is another story.
I am asking for your generosity to donate to this fund for Veronica's Spelenectomy in a private hospital. The net cost is about USD 5,000, including doctors fees. I am asking for an additional $2000 for pre and post-op medications, vaccines, follow-up visits, and to help them get back on their feet. We must hurry, as every moment of delay increases costs due to inflation rates, and she needs the operation as soon as her platelets go up.
I will be eternally grateful, and will be sending updates as we move along. Like you, I can only follow from abroad, as I am unable to fly to Caracas the moment.
Gracias y un abrazo.
Co-organizers (2)
Carla Rivera
Organizer
New York, NY
Veronica Solorzano
Co-organizer