Trasplante para Ayudar a Wanda a Vencer Cáncer
Donation protected
¡Version en Español abajo! Gracias por su apoyo.
With a heavy heart we share the story of our wonderful mother!
What happened?
After Puerto Rico was devastated by the passage of Hurricane Maria, our parents left the Island equipped with just two bags and the hope of returning to their home when conditions in their community improved. Unfortunately, mom fell ill in October 2017. On March 2018, after 5 months of seeing doctors and visiting emergency rooms in New York and Florida, she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (MM) with Lytic Metastasis in Miami, Florida. MM is an aggressive type of plasma cell cancer that grows in the bone marrow. Her condition was critical. She was suffering from stage 4 kidney disease, severe hypercalcemia, pathological fractures in her skull, ribs, backbone, and pelvis (these fractures do not heal), and severe anxiety, among many other ailments. She was in excruciating pain, could not walk or communicate effectively, was bedridden, and could not satisfy her most basic physiological needs. It was uncertain if she was going to make it out of the hospital alive, we were told by multiple physicians.

But she made it! She fought harder than she’s ever fought before. After being hospitalized for two months and spending twelve days in acute rehabilitation, she slowly improved. Her recovery amazed doctors and nurses. She started chemotherapy March 2018 and has not stopped the grueling treatment since. In addition to her two weekly chemotherapy treatments, she received twelve days of radiation. During her time in rehabilitation she learned to put her socks and shoes on. She also started walking again. At first, she only managed several feet. But she kept at it and slowly increased the distance she was able to walk. Now she is taking short walks with us around the neighborhood! She even had to learn how to get in and out of bed, and how to get dressed. More importantly, she started texting again! It was tough going, but she persevered. And she succeeded, as she slowly started to trust her fractured body again. It was hard work
but she did it.

Mami (Mom)
Her name is Wanda and she is the best mother two girls could ask for. She is the most caring, fun and loving person we know. Mami loves dancing and singing. While in the hospital and due to cognitive impediments humming substituted singing. "I will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor became her go to song to hum. In the face of great adversity, she stands firm in her desire to overcome this terrible illness and trusts that a brighter future is ahead.
March-April Transplant and Beyond
The next step in her road to recovery is an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT). During this procedure, her own blood-forming stem cells are collected. Once collected, she’ll be treated with high doses of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. Collected stem cells are then put back into her bloodstream allowing the bone marrow to produce new blood cells. The transplantation process is scheduled to begin in March and will last about a month with follow up treatment extending months after transplantation.
Transplant Costs and Insurance
The local hospitals in Miami that could treat her type of cancer would not admit her with her insurance from Puerto Rico, so she had to drop it. As a result she has been responsible for covering 20% of all her medical and hospital costs.
Your donation will allow her to receive the Transplant she needs. It will go directly towards covering the extraction of blood plasma from her body. Mobilization and extraction has an average cost of $40,000.00. Another important cost associated with this process is the coverage of medicines, one of the drugs, Revlimid, has a cost of $14,000.00 per month before hitting catastrophic level insurance. She will need to take this drug for the rest of her life. With your contribution we will secure a two month supply. Costs associated with transplants of this kind are exorbitant, they average $120,000.00.
How you can Help
We thank you for considering donating to this cause. To help us get the word out, please consider sharing our link to your Facebook Timeline or any other social media outlet you may use.
We will post updates here so you can see your donation in action. Again, from the bottom of our hearts, many thanks.
Karla & Ivelisse
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
¿Qué Pasó?
Tras el paso del Huracán María por Puerto Rico, nuestra mamá, Wanda Devarié, se fue para Miami, Florida, con una de sus hijas con el plan de regresar a Puerto Rico cuando las condiciones en su comunidad mejoraran. Lamentablemente, mami no puedo regresar a Puerto Rico ya que en marzo 2018 fue diagnosticada con, Mieloma Múltiple con metástasis lítica, un cáncer de las células plasmáticas muy agresivo y destructivo. Al momento del diagnóstico ella se encontraba en estado crítico - padecía de fallo renal IV, hipercalcemia, ansiedad, entre otras padecimientos. Además, encontraron fracturas patológicas en su cráneo, costillas, columna vertebral y caderas. Estas fracturas no sanan. Mami estaba postrada en cama, no caminaba y no podía comunicarse efectivamente, ni verbalmente ni por escrito. Varios doctores nos recomendaron que nos despidiéramos de ella ya que era probable que no sobreviviera este período.
Pero mami salió del hospital. Luchó fuertemente, como nunca antes, y después de dos meses en el hospital y 12 días de terapia aguda fue dada de alta. Mami también recibió 12 días de radiación. Su recuperación sorprendió al equipo médico. Durante el periodo de rehabilitación mami aprendió a vestirse, a ponerse medias y zapatos, a montarse en carros. Además, comenzó a caminar nuevamente. Primero 20 pies y poco a poco aumentó la distancia. Ahora da paseos cortos por la comunidad.
¿Quién es Wanda Devarié?
Mami es una excelente madre y ser humano, la mejor. ¡Amorosa, compasiva, divertida, muy feliz y con un gran sentido de humor! Le encanta bailar y cantar. En el hospital, como no podía cantar, tarareaba canciones todo el tiempo. Su favorita era “I will Survive” de Gloria Gaynor. Mami, como empleada gubernamental, dedicó 45 años de su vida a ayudar a personas con impedimentos físicos y/o cognoscitivos a reincorporarse efectivamente al mundo laboral a través de terapia ocupacional y física.
Ante gran adversidad y luego de tanto sufrimiento, ella continúa firme en su deseo de seguir luchando en contra de esta terrible enfermedad y confía en que un futuro brillante está a la vuelta de la esquina.
¿Qué es un Transplante de Médula Osea?
Para que mami continúe ganándole la batalla a este cáncer, ella necesita un transplante de células madre autólogo. Durante este transplante mami va a recibir sus propias células madre. Primero, se extraen las células madre de la sangre y se congelan. Luego, se administra una quimioterapia muy potente y se re-introducen las células en la sangre. Las células madre lleguen a la médula ósea y comienzan a crecer y multiplicarse ayudándole a la médula a producir células sanguíneas sanas nuevamente.
Costo del Transplante
Mami fue diagnosticada en Miami, Florida. Los hospitales que podían tratar su cáncer indicaron que no la iban a admitir con su plan médico de Puerto Rico. Así que nos vimos forzados a dejar su plan médico. Como resultado ella ha sido responsable del 20% de sus gastos médicos. Los gastos son exorbitantes.
Su donativo se utilizará para cubrir los costos de extracción y re-introducción de las células madre. Este proceso tiene un costo aproximado de $40,000.00. Un costo fundamental en este proceso son los medicamentos. Revlimid, utilizada para inmunoterapia, tiene un costo de $14,000.00 al mes antes de llegar al nivel de cobertura catastrófica. Costos asociados con este tipo de transplante promedian $120,000.00.
¿Cómo Nos Puede Ayudar?
Puede ayudarnos a llegar a nuestra meta donando cualquier cantidad de dinero o compartiendo este GoFundMe en sus redes sociales, como Facebook. Los mantendremos informados del proceso para que vea su donativo en acción.
Eternamente agradecidas,
Karla e Ivelisse
October 31, 2018
With "mami" at the hospital after her first chemotherapy treatment of that week!
En el hospital con mami luego de su primera dosis de quimioterapia de la semana.
With a heavy heart we share the story of our wonderful mother!
What happened?
After Puerto Rico was devastated by the passage of Hurricane Maria, our parents left the Island equipped with just two bags and the hope of returning to their home when conditions in their community improved. Unfortunately, mom fell ill in October 2017. On March 2018, after 5 months of seeing doctors and visiting emergency rooms in New York and Florida, she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (MM) with Lytic Metastasis in Miami, Florida. MM is an aggressive type of plasma cell cancer that grows in the bone marrow. Her condition was critical. She was suffering from stage 4 kidney disease, severe hypercalcemia, pathological fractures in her skull, ribs, backbone, and pelvis (these fractures do not heal), and severe anxiety, among many other ailments. She was in excruciating pain, could not walk or communicate effectively, was bedridden, and could not satisfy her most basic physiological needs. It was uncertain if she was going to make it out of the hospital alive, we were told by multiple physicians.
But she made it! She fought harder than she’s ever fought before. After being hospitalized for two months and spending twelve days in acute rehabilitation, she slowly improved. Her recovery amazed doctors and nurses. She started chemotherapy March 2018 and has not stopped the grueling treatment since. In addition to her two weekly chemotherapy treatments, she received twelve days of radiation. During her time in rehabilitation she learned to put her socks and shoes on. She also started walking again. At first, she only managed several feet. But she kept at it and slowly increased the distance she was able to walk. Now she is taking short walks with us around the neighborhood! She even had to learn how to get in and out of bed, and how to get dressed. More importantly, she started texting again! It was tough going, but she persevered. And she succeeded, as she slowly started to trust her fractured body again. It was hard work
but she did it.
Mami (Mom)
Her name is Wanda and she is the best mother two girls could ask for. She is the most caring, fun and loving person we know. Mami loves dancing and singing. While in the hospital and due to cognitive impediments humming substituted singing. "I will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor became her go to song to hum. In the face of great adversity, she stands firm in her desire to overcome this terrible illness and trusts that a brighter future is ahead.
March-April Transplant and Beyond
The next step in her road to recovery is an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT). During this procedure, her own blood-forming stem cells are collected. Once collected, she’ll be treated with high doses of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. Collected stem cells are then put back into her bloodstream allowing the bone marrow to produce new blood cells. The transplantation process is scheduled to begin in March and will last about a month with follow up treatment extending months after transplantation.
Transplant Costs and Insurance
The local hospitals in Miami that could treat her type of cancer would not admit her with her insurance from Puerto Rico, so she had to drop it. As a result she has been responsible for covering 20% of all her medical and hospital costs.
Your donation will allow her to receive the Transplant she needs. It will go directly towards covering the extraction of blood plasma from her body. Mobilization and extraction has an average cost of $40,000.00. Another important cost associated with this process is the coverage of medicines, one of the drugs, Revlimid, has a cost of $14,000.00 per month before hitting catastrophic level insurance. She will need to take this drug for the rest of her life. With your contribution we will secure a two month supply. Costs associated with transplants of this kind are exorbitant, they average $120,000.00.
How you can Help
We thank you for considering donating to this cause. To help us get the word out, please consider sharing our link to your Facebook Timeline or any other social media outlet you may use.
We will post updates here so you can see your donation in action. Again, from the bottom of our hearts, many thanks.
Karla & Ivelisse
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
¿Qué Pasó?
Tras el paso del Huracán María por Puerto Rico, nuestra mamá, Wanda Devarié, se fue para Miami, Florida, con una de sus hijas con el plan de regresar a Puerto Rico cuando las condiciones en su comunidad mejoraran. Lamentablemente, mami no puedo regresar a Puerto Rico ya que en marzo 2018 fue diagnosticada con, Mieloma Múltiple con metástasis lítica, un cáncer de las células plasmáticas muy agresivo y destructivo. Al momento del diagnóstico ella se encontraba en estado crítico - padecía de fallo renal IV, hipercalcemia, ansiedad, entre otras padecimientos. Además, encontraron fracturas patológicas en su cráneo, costillas, columna vertebral y caderas. Estas fracturas no sanan. Mami estaba postrada en cama, no caminaba y no podía comunicarse efectivamente, ni verbalmente ni por escrito. Varios doctores nos recomendaron que nos despidiéramos de ella ya que era probable que no sobreviviera este período.
Pero mami salió del hospital. Luchó fuertemente, como nunca antes, y después de dos meses en el hospital y 12 días de terapia aguda fue dada de alta. Mami también recibió 12 días de radiación. Su recuperación sorprendió al equipo médico. Durante el periodo de rehabilitación mami aprendió a vestirse, a ponerse medias y zapatos, a montarse en carros. Además, comenzó a caminar nuevamente. Primero 20 pies y poco a poco aumentó la distancia. Ahora da paseos cortos por la comunidad.
¿Quién es Wanda Devarié?
Mami es una excelente madre y ser humano, la mejor. ¡Amorosa, compasiva, divertida, muy feliz y con un gran sentido de humor! Le encanta bailar y cantar. En el hospital, como no podía cantar, tarareaba canciones todo el tiempo. Su favorita era “I will Survive” de Gloria Gaynor. Mami, como empleada gubernamental, dedicó 45 años de su vida a ayudar a personas con impedimentos físicos y/o cognoscitivos a reincorporarse efectivamente al mundo laboral a través de terapia ocupacional y física.
Ante gran adversidad y luego de tanto sufrimiento, ella continúa firme en su deseo de seguir luchando en contra de esta terrible enfermedad y confía en que un futuro brillante está a la vuelta de la esquina.
¿Qué es un Transplante de Médula Osea?
Para que mami continúe ganándole la batalla a este cáncer, ella necesita un transplante de células madre autólogo. Durante este transplante mami va a recibir sus propias células madre. Primero, se extraen las células madre de la sangre y se congelan. Luego, se administra una quimioterapia muy potente y se re-introducen las células en la sangre. Las células madre lleguen a la médula ósea y comienzan a crecer y multiplicarse ayudándole a la médula a producir células sanguíneas sanas nuevamente.
Costo del Transplante
Mami fue diagnosticada en Miami, Florida. Los hospitales que podían tratar su cáncer indicaron que no la iban a admitir con su plan médico de Puerto Rico. Así que nos vimos forzados a dejar su plan médico. Como resultado ella ha sido responsable del 20% de sus gastos médicos. Los gastos son exorbitantes.
Su donativo se utilizará para cubrir los costos de extracción y re-introducción de las células madre. Este proceso tiene un costo aproximado de $40,000.00. Un costo fundamental en este proceso son los medicamentos. Revlimid, utilizada para inmunoterapia, tiene un costo de $14,000.00 al mes antes de llegar al nivel de cobertura catastrófica. Costos asociados con este tipo de transplante promedian $120,000.00.
¿Cómo Nos Puede Ayudar?
Puede ayudarnos a llegar a nuestra meta donando cualquier cantidad de dinero o compartiendo este GoFundMe en sus redes sociales, como Facebook. Los mantendremos informados del proceso para que vea su donativo en acción.
Eternamente agradecidas,
Karla e Ivelisse
October 31, 2018 With "mami" at the hospital after her first chemotherapy treatment of that week!
En el hospital con mami luego de su primera dosis de quimioterapia de la semana.
Organizer
Karla Raimundi
Organizer
Doral, FL
