Venezuela Cries for Help Fund!

*V E N E Z U E L A  N E E D S  Y O U*

You’ve read the recent headlines:

Venezuela is Starving | Armed Civilian Bands Prop Up Unpopular President | Chaos Looms Over Venezuela.

You’ve seen the disturbing videos of protesters being oppressed and attacked by the National Guard Forces
with tear gas and pellet guns for exercising their right to express their opinion.

You’ve seen and read about the fallen; most of whom were young citizens fighting for freedom; demanding elections and basic human necessities such as food and medicine. One of them was a viola player, who had big dreams and talent and love for music.

I live in Houston, TX, with my husband and twin boys, and while I cannot physically join my family and friends in this fight, I know a little financial help can go a long way. 

On Monday, May 8, I told my sister, who resides in Caracas, Venezuela, that I wanted to raise money to help area hospitals and emergency medical responders during this terrible crisis. Later that same day, within hours, she herself became a victim of oppression. She was attacked with tear gas by the National Guard Forces, and in a moment of panic, she got trampled by a crowd, leaving her with a badly injured knee that luckily only required stitches. 

This further fueled my anger and my desire to do something, big or small, to provide some relief to my Venezuelan brothers and sisters.

For that reason, I’d like to ask my fellow Venezuelans living abroad and anyone and everyone, our Colombian brothers and sisters, and all Latin American and North American friends, to please consider donating today to this cause that will benefit two important groups:

·         Primeros Auxilios UCV
          (Instagram: @primerosauxiliosUCV)

·         Movimiento Estudiantil de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB)
           (Instagram: @ucabme)

These student groups put their lives at risk every day; assisting victims of oppression such as my sister. In fact, my sister was carried and transported to a nearby hospital by the brave young men and women of the Movimiento Estudiantil de la UCAB.

Primeros Auxilios UCV; on the other hand, are medical students of the Universidad Central de Venezuela. They’re the ones who wear the iconic white helmets with the green cross (see photos) and are present at every protest. They too provide relief and their medical services among the chaos that Venezuelans are facing.

The current situation is dire. The food and medicine shortages make it very difficult for the Venezuelan people to live decent lives. Every bit can help. I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for your cooperation.

I understand that there are many Go FundMe accounts  out there and that there is some skepticism with good enough reason. Here are a few facts about me, my relationship with the parties I'm raising funds for, and details about how the funds will be spent.
 
1. About Me: My name is Vanessa Astros. I live in Houston, TX, with my husband and twin boys. My parents and sister live in El Paraiso, where some of the most violent oppression has taken place in recent weeks. My mom is a pharmacist in El Valle, Caracas, and she has offered to help coordinate the purchase and delivery of some of the first aid supplies I plan to get with your donations.

2. About my relationship with the organizations I'm raising funds for: I admire the work these brave young men and women are doing every day at rallies and concentrations. If it wasn't because of their quick thinking and their medical expertise, the number of injured would perhaps be higher. Stephany Plaza with Primeros Auxilios UCV is responsible for handling the donations on behalf of this group and my sister will make sure the donations get to her personally. Ana Florencia with UCAB, who transported my sister to the hospital shortly after going down with a broken knee, will be our direct contact at this organization and will make sure the donations are delivered to the right hands. 

3. How the funds will be used: Your donations will be used to buy essential first aid supplies such as: nebulizer masks for children and adults, rolls of gauze, antibiotics, elastic bandages, bandages for severe burns, saline solution, and other "hard-to-find" first-aid supplies that are needed to heal the injured. My goal is to purchase most of these supplies in Caracas (through my mom's pharmacy providers) but given the current shortages, I will likely need to purchase some or most of them from the U.S. (Amazon, Walmart) and ship them through Mi Carga Houston in Katy, TX. Once the campaign ends and the supplies are purchased, I will update a page with a picture of the receipts and supplies.

Here's the full list I received from Primeros Auxilios UCV on May 9:
- Sutura recta
- Sutura curva
-Kits cirugía menor
-Sondas folley
-Anit ácido líquido
-Cánulas de mayo (2mm)
-Pinzas McGill
-Cánulas nasofaringueas
-Campos quirúrgicos
-Moxifloxacina
-Levofloxacina
- Ceftriaxone (ampolla)
- Vancomicina (ampolla)
- Oxacilina (ampolla)
- Dexametasona (ampolla)
- Hidrocortisona (ampolla)
-Furosemida (ampollas)
-Captopril
-Losartan
-Sulfadiazina de plata
-Salbutamol (inhalado)
- Iodopovidona
- Protosulfil
- Apósitos para quemaduras
- Adhesivos transparentes
- Jeringas de irrigación e intramusculares
- Pedialyte o electrolyte
- Compresas
- Hirudoid gel o pomada

And here's the full received from Movimiento Estudiantil UCAB:
- Antiacido liquido (maalox)
- Steri strip
- Ferulas
- Collarines
- Cafadroxilo
- Amoxicilina (Acido cabulanico)
- Hirudoid
- Salbutamol (inhalador)
- Maxifloxacina
- Levofloxacina
- Valsartan
- Furosemide
- Tirejas de extricacion
- Protosulfil
- Furacin
- Apositos para quemadura
- Bactroban 2%
- Dermagram o cuticel
- Adhesivos medicos
- Vendas adhesivas
- Vendas elásticas
- Pedialyte o electrolyte
- Compresas
- Iodopovidona

4.  My withdrawal plan to get the funds from the campaign to the ultimate beneficiary/ies: I will withdraw the funds in my name, deposit them into my checking account, and use 100% of the funds to buy some of the supplies listed above. Due to the shortages, I will likely purchase most of the supplies online in the U.S. and ship them through Mi Carga Houston in Katy, TX. Because prescriptions are required to purchase  antibiotics in the U.S., my mom - who is a practicing pharmacist in Caracas- is working on possibly getting antibiotics from the laboratories that she has relationships with in Caracas. I will update this page once the campaign ends with photos of the receipts and pictures of the supplies.

Muchas gracias por su generosidad, y que Dios los Bendiga...

#SOSVenezuela
#VenezuelaenlaLucha
#VenezuelaenlaCalle
#vzlacriesforhelp