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We have a member who is going through Chemo. This person has requested to remain annoymous, since they are a private person. Out of respect, I have agreed to this. Should they decide to come forward at a later time, I ask that you be supportive and still respect their privacy. They don't think that people should be asked to help them, but I decided to surprise them by creating this fundraiser because I, for one, know better than this. As a community we have grown to love one another more than any other community that I have seen.
About 1 1/2 years ago, after several months of various testing, this person was diagnosed with lupus. Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. Lupus is a life long disease.
In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). In this person's case, lupus has affected their joints and multiple internal organs, including their kidneys causing early stages of kidney failure, blood, and brain/pituitary gland. They have been in and out of hospitals, and has been on several expensive medications, which until recently included multiple chemo meds they would inject weekly, and 13 oral medications. These medications have harsh and damaging side effects. Since the weekly injections were not producing positive results after being administered for over a year, their doctor decided to move to a stronger, more invasion treatment of intravenous chemotherapy, in addition to the oral medication. Since this is a much stronger and direct dose, they hope that this will help put some symptoms into remission. But, unlike with some cancers, remission is only short term, typically lasting from several months to a couple of years. Once the symptoms return, the treatments will need to be repeated. As you can imagine, these multiple hospitalizations and treatments and various medications are not only costly and have severe side effects, but the financially responsibility that comes along with them add much unneeded stress and feelings of overwhelmness. And, guess what makes the symptoms and flare ups of lupus worse? Stress. This is why I felt compelled to help in any way possible. Whether you are able to donate, or offer words of encouragement and support, your support is importance and appreciated.
Now, this person works when they can. Which if you have ever seen chemo, you know that can take awhile. And lets face it part of our healthcare system is broken.
This is my request. Can we get together, as I know we can, and help them in anyway we can? I plan on donating a little a week and working it into my budget. But that little bit may add to the medication they could use to help keep their nausea at bay. Or it could mean they have 5 more dollars to put towards medical bills. It won't hurt me to go without that pacakge of cookies or to go without that starbucks trip. But they are in pain, I am not.
My hope is to have everyone show how much this person is loved. I know it may seem difficult since this person wants to keep their identity private, but I know how awesome and supportive this family can be. This could have happened to any one of us, just like it could be any one of us. Now I am going to let them come forward when they want to. If you have guesses as to who it is, please keep it to yourself until they want everyone to know. I do think that we should encourage them to come forward by showing our love for them. You have to understand that sometimes its hard to let people know that there are things going on in your life that you may need a little help with.
(Side note. All of this will go to help them pay for their medical bills and expenses. I will not see a penny of it. Nobody will but them. No I am not trying to scam you. There is someone I really want to help and can not do so alone. Thank you! Happy Vaping!)
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