Daisy Alvarez’s Myasthenia Gravis Operation and Recovery

My wife Daisy Alvarez had an operation to remove the tumor in her Thymus gland which caused her Myasthenia Gravis (MG). Months before, a small tumor (2.7 cm) in her Thymus gland was detected.

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles, which are responsible for breathing and moving parts of the body, including the arms and legs. The name myasthenia gravis, which is Latin and Greek in origin, means "grave, or serious, muscle weakness."

She previously complained that her eyelids started drooping and was experiencing physical weakness while just taking a few steps. After several tests and examination, it was disclosed that her condition was being caused by myasthenia gravis, specially after detecting her Thymoma.

Her doctor recommended that she undergo a procedure to remove the tumor but opted to monitor her condition further before actually doing the procedure and prescribed medicines that the doctor hoped will helped her eyelids from drooping.

However, her condition did not improved but further deteriorated.

She was rushed to the Emergency Room on the evening of December 2, 2017, because she had great difficulty breathing and swallowing, which at first was thought to be asthma related. She was then however, admitted to the ICU for close monitoring since her condition was graver than just asthma. It was then found out that she also contracted pneumonia. At first, in her left lung but after a day, both her lungs. It was very hard on her. This episode, definitely disclosed that any virus like the simple cold will have a grave effect on her.

She stayed in the ICU until the 6^th of December. She was transferred to a regular room the next day. After which, her doctors recommended that she undergo the procedure to remove the tumor when she was adequately rested and strong enough to undergo the operation.

Her surgeon, after a lengthy discussion with the family, rather than the usual technique of opening and cutting through her breast bone, opted to use VATS ( Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) a minimally invasive technique. This technique will minimize the strain to her body and her recovery will be so much shorter.

The surgery was successful but lasted for more than seven (7) hours. A vein was nicked during the operation. The surgeon had to enlarge one of the six (6) incisions to find the cause of the bleeding. This incision however, cause her the most pain after the operation and recovery. Right after the procedure, she had to and stayed several days again in the ICU. She had difficulty breathing and was in a lot of pain. And she still is. She had to be fed through a tube through her nose (NasoGastric Tube - NGT). She was also attached to a ventilator to assist her breathing (this tube was inserted during the procedure and kept on during her stay at the ICU).

When she was transferred to a regular room, she still had the NGT and was on Oxygen to help her breathing.

Her doctors ordered another CT Scan to ensure that her condition has improved. She will also undergo therapy two (2) weeks after her discharge.

Her current running hospital bill has reached more than P800,000.00. That amount still does not include doctors’ professional fees.

We have received assistance from the government, Church, friends and family. But we are still a long way from raising the full amount of her hospital bills. With this amount, no way will our family be able to raise this on our own. We desperately need your help.

We pray that she gets better and be out of the hospital before her birthday (December 31) and the New Year..

Our whole family thanks you all in advance for the financial assistance.

God bless you all.

Emil Alvarez
Husband