Help us Fund Fluerbelle

FLUERBELLE'S STORY

My name is Fluerbelle Marie Asong, 40 years old, married and suffering from Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease.

At an early age I had suffered from polycystic ovaries; I was 18 years old when it was diagnosed. I remembered that I didn’t have my period for almost a year and a half. After 10 years of battling with polycystic ovaries came diabetes. It was our usual annual physical medical exam where we were subjected to fasting and had our blood taken. Right there and then my FBS (Fasting Blood Sugar) result came out higher than normal, my reading was at 180 mg/dl. I was really in denial. I thought maybe the reading wasn't right. I sought a second opinion, I had my HBA1C Test. It's the average blood sugar test for the last 2-3 mos. The result came out high as well it was at 9%.

For over a decade I have been fighting diabetes. My sugar was never controlled. I did try to have a healthy lifestyle by choosing the right kind of food but due to lack of sleep, I worked a night shift, my body couldn't withstand all the pressure and stress.

I got pregnant and lost my 1st and 2nd babies at 8 months old because my water bag broke. Both did not survive after birth. My eldest Adam Uriel was a boy, I delivered him Feb. 18 and was incubated and placed in NICU for 2 days by Feb. 20 he left us. He was a blue baby, the valve and veins on his heart mixed with water and blood and his survival was rather thin. He fought for 2 days and was revived more than 3 times. I don't know how his tiny body had made it until he finally let go.

My 2nd child was a baby girl named Cecille Anne and she too had stayed for 8 months in my belly but when I reached 32 weeks my water bag broke again. She was delivered through cesarean operation as she was a placenta previa baby. Her lungs were under developed. I never heard her cry. I gave birth at 9 am and my daughter had her last breath at 3 pm then she left us.

Finally, I had my 3rd pregnancy. I ask God if this baby will not make it, I want to be with her/him to take me as well. Arabella was my miracle baby as she was the only one who survived and is now a healthy, bright and strong 8 year old girl.

I on the other hand after a week of giving birth through cesarean operation had another major operation. I got wound dehiscence. My stitches reopened and have to be stitched again. It was over a month of recovery for me. But nevertheless, I have something to be thankful for. It was my miracle baby Arabella.

Fast forward, life came back to normal, both me and my husband were working and everything normal at least for quite some time.

Then in 2018, I noticed that there were several physical changes happening to me. I tend to become slower, always tired, I usually get an upset stomach most of the time and got these terrible back aches. I resorted to some herbal medicines still not taking insulin though. I have drastically changed my food choices by foregoing meat. I lost my appetite but I was not losing weight. My ankles started to swell and the swelling went up to my face. Despite my situation I still went to work. Eventually I got rushed to the hospital because of an upset stomach. My sugar had dropped, my blood pressure was so high and my oxygen level had dropped drastically, I almost lost consciousness.

After a series of tests in the hospital the doctor read all the results. This time there was no turning back, my kidneys are damaged at about 80% and are irreversible. I need to have an emergency dialysis ASAP.

I really did not understand at first what the doctor was telling me. I told him I need to talk to my family first before any procedure should be done. He advised that if I prolong or hold the operation I might be placing myself at risk and it may cause me to die. As the toxins in my body that my kidney can no longer filter would be spreading all throughout my body which might cause damage to my other internal organs which will lead to my death.

I had no choice but to go through the operation then had my emergency dialysis after my IJ Catheter was inserted.

While having my dialysis, a realization hit me, What have I done that was insanely wrong? Have I been a bad person? Was I a cruel person, vile and evil? Do I deserve this?

All throughout the times that I was in the hospital all our savings were spent. Year after year after year until nothing was left. Even if I have health insurance it will not suffice with all the expenses I had because of my sickness. From the hospitalization to maintenance medicines, dialysis, etc. All our resources were exhausted. We have nothing left.

Because of my sickness my husband had to take care of me and our daughter. He had to stop working. I on the other hand since my work is not a laborious one have continued working to support our family. We were able to make both ends meet by stretching our budget to the max no extra curricular just basic needs and necessities which includes maintenance medicines and etc,

As the worldwide pandemic rises we were not safe since we needed to go out for my dialysis and small errands i.e. buying medicines and food.

Since I have a weak immune system because of my chronic kidney disease I tested positive for COVID-19. I stayed for almost 20 days in the hospital, with the hefty hospital fees and my continued dialysis all our financial resources have been exhausted to the max.

We do not have any properties that we could sell nor any assets that we could loan.

We are humbly asking those who have big hearts for assistance so that we could make it through.

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I created this fundraising to help my cousin Fluerbelle or Ate Poi as we call her. She is suffering from Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease which requires her to undergo dialysis every week. Her immune system is also very weak because of this she often gets sick and has to be hospitalized. The expenses of her weekly dialysis, the hospitalization and medicines have taken a toll on the family financially. Our family has done everything we can to help out but it's not enough as the medical fees continue to rise. Especially with the pandemic, we are also fighting our own financial battles. We want to help our cousin but resources and capabilities are also limited that’s why my family and I are reaching out for financial assistance. Any amount of donation would be of great help for my cousin who has been fighting her best even in times like these.

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