Help Matina with COVID-19 Care & Healing
Donation protected
Thank you to everyone who has reached out and encouraged us to start a GoFundMe for our dear friend, Matina. COVID-19 has become a norm in our daily lives. It has affected people who we dearly love and Matina is one of those people.
Matina has been nothing more than a kind-hearted, considerate, and loving friend to us all. She has always put others first and gives without expectations. As she continues to fight her COVID-19 battle, she needs our help more than ever. This GoFundMe was started to cover any financial needs from hospitalization to a hopeful recovery. All funds will directly go to Matina. We greatly appreciate any amount you are willing to donate. If you are unable to donate, please leave a kind, uplifting message below and continue to keep Matina and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.
Her Story
When a global pandemic hits, we know it's real, we wear the mask, but we question what are the chances of contracting it?! Then one day, you receive news of a very close friend in her 30's who contracted COVID-19 and has been fighting in the hospital for over a month during the holidays...your perspective changes. While many of us were sent home to safely work, Matina's mother is considered an essential worker. Her mother started to show mild symptoms and found out she was exposed to COVID-19 from a coworker. Thankfully, she was able to manage her symptoms and recover at home. Matina's father and brother both tested negative.
On the other side, this is the beginning of a roller coaster of events for Matina and her husband, Pete. They both contracted COVID-19 and suddenly experienced mild to moderate symptoms, such as fever, chills, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Matina's symptoms became very sever and she went to the ER on Saturday December 5th, where she received IV fluids and pain medications. She was discharged from the ER in hopes of recovering at home.
In a few days, Pete never expected that struggling to breathe would immediately separate him from his new wife. On Tuesday December 8th, Matina was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed COVID-19 Pneumonia, which caused severe inflammation in her lungs. She is one of the serious COVID-19 cases that she relies heavily on a ventilator to help with breathing while simultaneously receiving nutrients through an IV.
Her body seemed to be reacting well to the treatment and Matina found some energy to communicate with her loved ones over the phone. Due to strict hospital restrictions, visitors aren't allowed at this time to limit potential exposure. She remains positive through all the uncomfortable pain in the ICU and shares a snippet of her COVID-19 journey on Facebook to bring awareness to all. While Matina is receiving treatment in the hospital, Pete is anxiously awaiting updates from doctors and nurses while still experiencing moderate symptoms himself at home. he eventually was admitted to the hospital for a couple days but he is home now and continues to recover.
Things take another turn. When the ventilator isn't enough, worry sets in. On December 27th, Matina is placed on ECMO (extracorporal membrance oxygenation), which is used in critical care situations. In ECMO, blood is pumped outside of the body to a heart lung machine that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen filled blood back to tissues in the body. This treatment will allow the blood to bypass the heart and lungs, allowing these organs to rest and heal. Matina will continue receiving ECMO, including sedation. She is not able to talk during this time.
Matina isn't alone in this COVID-19 battle. We are all fighting with her and we will continue to be there through her full recovery. Thank you tremendously for your outpouring of love and support. Please continue to keep Matina and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. We're all in this together. We will continue to keep this GoFundMe updated. Please wear a mask, social distance, and stay home if you are sick. Stay safe & healthy everyone!
Matina has been nothing more than a kind-hearted, considerate, and loving friend to us all. She has always put others first and gives without expectations. As she continues to fight her COVID-19 battle, she needs our help more than ever. This GoFundMe was started to cover any financial needs from hospitalization to a hopeful recovery. All funds will directly go to Matina. We greatly appreciate any amount you are willing to donate. If you are unable to donate, please leave a kind, uplifting message below and continue to keep Matina and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.
Her Story
When a global pandemic hits, we know it's real, we wear the mask, but we question what are the chances of contracting it?! Then one day, you receive news of a very close friend in her 30's who contracted COVID-19 and has been fighting in the hospital for over a month during the holidays...your perspective changes. While many of us were sent home to safely work, Matina's mother is considered an essential worker. Her mother started to show mild symptoms and found out she was exposed to COVID-19 from a coworker. Thankfully, she was able to manage her symptoms and recover at home. Matina's father and brother both tested negative.
On the other side, this is the beginning of a roller coaster of events for Matina and her husband, Pete. They both contracted COVID-19 and suddenly experienced mild to moderate symptoms, such as fever, chills, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Matina's symptoms became very sever and she went to the ER on Saturday December 5th, where she received IV fluids and pain medications. She was discharged from the ER in hopes of recovering at home.
In a few days, Pete never expected that struggling to breathe would immediately separate him from his new wife. On Tuesday December 8th, Matina was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed COVID-19 Pneumonia, which caused severe inflammation in her lungs. She is one of the serious COVID-19 cases that she relies heavily on a ventilator to help with breathing while simultaneously receiving nutrients through an IV.
Her body seemed to be reacting well to the treatment and Matina found some energy to communicate with her loved ones over the phone. Due to strict hospital restrictions, visitors aren't allowed at this time to limit potential exposure. She remains positive through all the uncomfortable pain in the ICU and shares a snippet of her COVID-19 journey on Facebook to bring awareness to all. While Matina is receiving treatment in the hospital, Pete is anxiously awaiting updates from doctors and nurses while still experiencing moderate symptoms himself at home. he eventually was admitted to the hospital for a couple days but he is home now and continues to recover.
Things take another turn. When the ventilator isn't enough, worry sets in. On December 27th, Matina is placed on ECMO (extracorporal membrance oxygenation), which is used in critical care situations. In ECMO, blood is pumped outside of the body to a heart lung machine that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen filled blood back to tissues in the body. This treatment will allow the blood to bypass the heart and lungs, allowing these organs to rest and heal. Matina will continue receiving ECMO, including sedation. She is not able to talk during this time.
Matina isn't alone in this COVID-19 battle. We are all fighting with her and we will continue to be there through her full recovery. Thank you tremendously for your outpouring of love and support. Please continue to keep Matina and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. We're all in this together. We will continue to keep this GoFundMe updated. Please wear a mask, social distance, and stay home if you are sick. Stay safe & healthy everyone!
Fundraising team (3)
Amanda Lanchester
Organizer
Richmond, VA
Pete Van Valkenburg
Beneficiary
Donalyn Nillo
Team member