Iyanda's fight against sickle cell
Donation protected
Your heredity is not linked to your destiny.
Sickle cell is a managed disease. Left unmanaged, excrutiating painful episodes, organ failure or even death can occour. Sickle cell is a serious blood disorder where the red blood cells are abnormally shaped. Iyanda was diagnoised with sickle cell from birth and as the disease progressed it was evident that she was in the high risk category for its most deadly complications.
For 12 year old Iyanda, a daily regime of medications, monitoring adequate fluid intake, monthly blood transfusions, depriving oneself of some childhood activities and avoiding extreme temperatures, and hospitalizations have become the normalcy of life she has become accustomed to. Her first hospitalization for the disease was when she was just 6 months old. At the age of 2 Iyanda underwent a heart catherization to implant a closure device to repair a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (opening in the valve leading to the heart). At 3, she would suffer her first stroke (and several other silent strokes thereafter). In 2014 she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with Acute Chest Syndrome as the complication aggresively advanced to serious respiratory distress. In 2016, she would again be admitted for complications of Acute Chest Syndrome and would have several unexplained relapses while in hospital for close to a month.
It was during her last hospitalization that her parents recognized not only was the disease becoming more aggressive, but "our little girl" was beginning to lose hope. The mental and emotional stress of a child dealing with any chronic illness can be overwhelming.
As an aspiring doctor, Iyanda is the oldest of two other siblings. While our situation is uncommon, we depended soley on our faith for an uncommon blessing. After undergoing tests on both her younger sister and brother, it was determined that her brother Christopher was an exact donor match for any hopes of her curing the disease - a revelation that just around 30% of siblings share. This was very exciting and encouraging news. A series of pre-bone marrow testing later ensured that both children were physically able to undergo the procedure. Christopher and Iyanda are both anxiously anticipating the positive outcome of this procedure, as it promises Iyanda a better quality of life. However, they need your financial assistance. Iyanda will be admitted to a children's hospital in Miami over the next few days to commence the Bone Marrow Transplant. A donation of any amount will go a long way in helping Christopher and Iyanda meet the financial obligations relative to their medical expense.
Subscribe to updates of this page so you can follow her progress.
Thank you in advance. Blessings!
Sickle cell is a managed disease. Left unmanaged, excrutiating painful episodes, organ failure or even death can occour. Sickle cell is a serious blood disorder where the red blood cells are abnormally shaped. Iyanda was diagnoised with sickle cell from birth and as the disease progressed it was evident that she was in the high risk category for its most deadly complications.
For 12 year old Iyanda, a daily regime of medications, monitoring adequate fluid intake, monthly blood transfusions, depriving oneself of some childhood activities and avoiding extreme temperatures, and hospitalizations have become the normalcy of life she has become accustomed to. Her first hospitalization for the disease was when she was just 6 months old. At the age of 2 Iyanda underwent a heart catherization to implant a closure device to repair a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (opening in the valve leading to the heart). At 3, she would suffer her first stroke (and several other silent strokes thereafter). In 2014 she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with Acute Chest Syndrome as the complication aggresively advanced to serious respiratory distress. In 2016, she would again be admitted for complications of Acute Chest Syndrome and would have several unexplained relapses while in hospital for close to a month.
It was during her last hospitalization that her parents recognized not only was the disease becoming more aggressive, but "our little girl" was beginning to lose hope. The mental and emotional stress of a child dealing with any chronic illness can be overwhelming.
As an aspiring doctor, Iyanda is the oldest of two other siblings. While our situation is uncommon, we depended soley on our faith for an uncommon blessing. After undergoing tests on both her younger sister and brother, it was determined that her brother Christopher was an exact donor match for any hopes of her curing the disease - a revelation that just around 30% of siblings share. This was very exciting and encouraging news. A series of pre-bone marrow testing later ensured that both children were physically able to undergo the procedure. Christopher and Iyanda are both anxiously anticipating the positive outcome of this procedure, as it promises Iyanda a better quality of life. However, they need your financial assistance. Iyanda will be admitted to a children's hospital in Miami over the next few days to commence the Bone Marrow Transplant. A donation of any amount will go a long way in helping Christopher and Iyanda meet the financial obligations relative to their medical expense.
Subscribe to updates of this page so you can follow her progress.
Thank you in advance. Blessings!
Organizer and beneficiary
Yolanda Hilton
Organizer
Hialeah, FL
Kenny Robinson
Beneficiary