Help Me Treat My Lupus

Hi! I am Cirene, or Cy for short and this is my story.

December 2021 when I felt sore on joints and wasn't able to move fingers, hand and toes. We immediately consulted the doctor and in the urinalysis, it was found that I have UTI. Joint swelling were healed and joint pains were managed, however, I experienced Vertigo the following week. I was given medications including antibiotics but the Vertigo and Joint Pains were continuously reoccurring. Still having joint pains, I was already having a hard time walking by first week of January 2022. I also felt weak and had slight colds, cough and sever stomach pain. On Saturday (January 8), I consulted the doctor and undergone series of laboratory tests. The CBC showed a drop in platelet counts equivalent to 6 (x 10^9 per L) which is way below the normal accepted range of 150 to 450 (x 10^9 per L). Hence, my Hematologist advised for an immediate hospital admission.

Severe stomach pain and pneumonia was the initial diagnosis secondary to Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) which was my disease in 2019. [Read my TTP ordeal here: Help Cirene from TTP | Medical Fundraising Page with GoGetFunding]

I was confined for 4 days in Mt. Carmel Diocesan General Hospital in Lucena City and received 2 bags of blood transfusion and plasma transfusion. I was then transferred here in UERM Hospital for plasmapheresis. However, after series of laboratory tests, I was advised not to undergo the treatment. I received treatment for my pneumonia and another series of tests show that I am ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) positive. [Read ANA here: ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test]. This concluded that everything that happened to me - the dropping of platelet counts and hemoglobin and the malfunction of lungs, kidney and heart - was due to LUPUS.

LUPUS is a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. [Read: Lupus - Better Health Channel]

I was advised for 2 sessions of rituximab infusion and will continue the management of this autoimmune disease through other medications. One session of rituximab already costs One Hundred Thirty Thousand Pesos ( PhP 130,000.00) and that is on top of the current running bill in the hospital estimated at almost 94 Thousand Pesos (excluding doctor's professional fees amounting to 53 Thousand Pesos).

We have already spent about 95 Thousand Pesos for my stay in Mount Carmel Diocesan General Hospital and still paying our balance of 2.77 Million Pesos (PhP 2,772,457.42 to be exact as of 11/10/2021) in St. Luke's QC for the treatment of my previous disease (TTP) in 2019. The treatment for my condition is highly expensive which my family cannot afford. I hope that we can appeal to your kind hearts to help us cover the medical expenses.

Alternatively, you may send in your help directly to her account:

METROBANK:

CIRENE GABRIELLE OPIZ

6123612095370

BPI:

CIRENE GABRIELLE OPIZ ITF ZEBEDEE YAEL AURELLANA

008853-1707-05

LANDBANK:

CIRENE GABRIELLE OPIZ

1877077230

BDO:

CIRENE GABRIELLE B. OPIZ

001820964750

RCBC:

ARLYN O. BAGASIN

0000009032037394

GCASH

CIRENE GABRIELLE OPIZ

09366760514