Jenfer’s Aplastic Anemia Treatment

Good Day,

Hi, this is Jofel Ortega and I am raising a fund for my little sister Jenfer. She is 10 years old and diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia.

December 2013 when my parents noticed her for being pale and weak. Well, this seems to be very normal among children since they are engaged of outside activities. But January 11, 2014, while eating her breakfast, she collapsed and rushed to Rizal Medical Center. First seven hospital days have been very hard for me and my relatives because the Doctor requested 7 bags of platelets and 1 bag of red blood cell. First question is that, where to get those blood packs and second, how much would each packs cost. By that time I am the only one whose working in the family and very worried because I do not have any capacity to buy all of the requested units. That is why I lend money to my friends and other relatives. When we get at least the amount for the said units,we bought blood packs and my sister undergone blood transfusion. We thought it ends or problem but its just the beggining.

On the 2nd hospital week, she became healthy and strong and the Doctors were very happy to see her like she is not sick at all.

But on the third hospital week, she developed purpura (red rashes-like dots) in her skin and look pale again. Series of Blood test are being done to check what is exactly happening to her. When the results came, the Hemoglobin count is normal but the platelet count was only 4. Her doctors were worried and start thinking to request for a bone marrow aspiration to make sure if what blood disorder is affectng her.

We always re-schedule her for BMA (Bone Marrow Aspiration) because there are some times that when they are ready for the procedure, my sister is having high fever, and worse.. bleeding episodes which may affect the result of the bone marrow aspirate if continued.

But since it is really urgent, Jenfer,at her young age, asked her doctor to do the procedure so that she can drink all of the medicines needed and go home.. So they did the procedure and Thank God, she did not have any bleeding and fever during the procedure.

We waited for a week for the result and it shows Severe Aplastic Anemia. Not just a simple anemia but the Severe case of Aplastic Anemia which is very serious. And some of the patients in the Hospital, who are already about a year confined there, told us that most of the patients there with aplastic anemia did not survive.

In our country, Many people do not understand what Aplastic Anemia is. They thought that it is just a simple iron deficiency anemia that needs minimal care.

What is Aplastic Anemia?

• Aplastic anemia is a disease in which the bone marrow, and the blood stem cells that reside there, are damaged. This causes a deficiency of all three blood cell types mainly the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

The Doctor called our attention to inform us that she needs to undergo Lifetime Immunosuppressive Drug therapy and continued blood transfusion. They also said that even if we have available blood for the transfusion but my sisters body refuses to accept these blood, it will worsen her situation. That hurts me and my family. Right now she is still confined at Rizal Medical Center (four months and still counting) for extra care and treatment while waiting for her chemotherapy.

That is why I am starting this fund raising to help pay for her medicines and future expenses. We already seek assistance to the local Government but it will take months to be approved. If we will wait for the approval of this assistance programs, I'm afraid that it will no longer reach my sister because it's too late.

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

I want to take part of her journey to fight this blood disorder and help my family to lighten up their burden. Jenfer wants to go home to live a normal life so please help us in making her dreams come true. I will do my best to help my sister and be the first Aplastic Anemia patient to survive in that hospital.

Thank you and God Bless

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." -Acts 20:35

Jofel Ortega