Davina Torres, her medical procedures & family.

Hello, our names are Maggie & Naomy; Davina is our niece; she is five years old. She led a carefree life, as most children do, but that changed on March 3, 2021. She had an apneic episode (stopped breathing). Her mother, Veronica Torres, called 911; Davina was rushed to Valley Children's Hospital, stabilized and placed in the pediatric ICU. She woke a few hours later, but her life has not been the same since. Six apneic episodes took place, along with many doctor visits in 2021 before she was diagnosed with what they thought was ADEM (acute disseminated encephalitis) or inflammation in her brain causing the apneic episodes which were seizures. She was started on IV steroids as her treatment. In January 2022, a brain MRI showed larger brain lesions and more lesions in her brain. She was referred to UCSF pediatric multiple sclerosis clinic in SF, where she was diagnosed with Familial Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH), not ADEM.

FHLH is fatal due to the inflammation it causes in her body, without treatment. Davina's treatment plan includes a bone marrow transplant. The good news is they have found a donor, but all pre-op visits and all further treatments will be all in San Francisco. Davina's treatments include once a week for the next three weeks in San Francisco. As you would imagine, this has been a tremendous emotional, mental and financial strain on the entire family. Her three older sisters are greatly affected due to the illness, causing memory loss. Both parents are doing everything they can to save her life because when the disease progresses, it is fatal. We welcome prayers, especially for the donors, so they have the health and strength to carry on with the donation process. As the school year begins, the family will be divided, keeping one parent in SF with Davina and the other here in the valley. The financial strain will double due to an extended hospitalization post translplant, so we are pleading for your help. Thank you and God bless.