Your share could raise $30
Before you go, did you know that simply by sharing this campaign, you could help it raise $30? It's an effective way to support the cause.
No thanks- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Sheri Smith hasn't added a story.
I thought saying good bye to my sister, my best friend, as she enlisted in the military and went off to boot camp would be the hardest thing I’d ever have to do. The military has always been her dream, not mine. I knew once she signed up there was no turning back, so I gave her a hug, said “I love you” and told her I would write to her every day. Weeks of boot camp felt like years had gone by without seeing my sister, but finally we were preparing our trip to her graduation ceremony. Two days before leaving my mother and I awake to a life changing phone call from a doctor at the Eisenhower Medical Center, notifying us of the urgency to get down to Georgia as Vanessa was in ICU. Our financial situation at the time left us with no choice but to drive, from RI to Georgia, a 19 hour anxious ride. We finally arrive only to see a girl, who I no longer recognized as my sister. She was frail, weak, swollen, and lifeless with tubes and IV‘s coming out of her body from every angle. The doctors told us she was in kidney failure and had developed a blood clot in her heart that she would most likely have 48-72 hours of life left. After months of not having seen Vanessa, we were preparing for a reunion and celebration, but instead we were left crying saying good bye. It didn’t make sense.
The nurses had extended their condolences, the priest had come in and said prayers, and through some miracle she pulled through it. For months she laid in a hospital bed in pain. We were told diagnosis, after diagnosis… cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, gastritis, hypoglycemia… and the list goes on. We watched her undergo surgeries, and chemotherapy. She cried as her hair fell out. One characteristic that stands out was the rash on her cheeks, which extended from one side to another making a butterfly appearance. After 3 months, her body slowly grew stronger, and the doctors finally had an answer for us: Lupus.
What is Lupus? They told us “a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs.“ How it was caused? They had no answer. Is there a cure? "No"
Life from that point on has never been the same. Today she is living with: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid Lupus, Lupus Nephrititis, Sinus Tachycardia, Myocarditis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue, Raynaud's Phenomenon, Onset Glaucoma, Pleuritis, Edema, Ulcers, Hair Loss, Gastritis, and Hypoglycemia. The list is continuing to grow as the disease progresses with age.
Anyone that knows Vanessa knows that she is funny, silly, caring, strong, smart, and determined. She has the ability to make people laugh. Most people don’t see her at times of weakness, because that’s not how she wants to be viewed. She stays positive and continues to fight Lupus.
Most people think that just because she may not “look” sick she must be fine, but she is not. I know that she does not want people to think “there is always something wrong with her”. The truth is they are right. There is always something wrong with her, but she has learned to live with it. I cannot begin to understand her pain on a day to day basis. At times I wish it were me who were diagnosed and not her.
This disease almost took her life once, and we fight every day to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Please help us raise money to help Vanessa fight Lupus. She currently does not have insurance and has been fighting medical expenses. I want money to be the least of her worries so she can stay strong and positive!
Thank you for your support, any help makes a huge differences
Dear Vanessa,
I love you with all my heart and soul. I Promise I will continue to fight for you as long as I live.
Love always,
Sheri
Highlights
See all activity14Activity
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.