Help save Rufaro who has Lupus

Team fundraiser

Sharon Nyamutswa and 3 others are organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi everyone,
Please Help save Rufaro and improve her quality of life. Rufaro Gutu is a 24 year old woman, who was diagnosed with systematic Lupus erythematosus in 2021. lupus is when the immune system attacks its own tissues. The disease affects every vital organ of the body , the kidneys, lungs, brain, heart, blood cells, skin and joints. When she was diagnosed, the disease had affected her brain, her kidneys, heart, her skin, her mouth and had to be fed through the tube. She could not walk, talk or communicate, her cognitive capacity was also affected . She became autistic.

Before she was diagnosed, Rufaro was in year 4 at Capetown University and supposed to have completed her degree programme in 2021. Rufaro had to defer her studies as she became unwell and unable to cope with her Illness.
Rufaro suffered considerably as doctors were buffled and could not pin point the exact cause of her illness, she started off being weak, loosing weight, severely anaemic to the extent her heart was struggling and was very weak. Her joints were sore and had rheumatoid arthritis. Rufaro was having seizures on a regular basis and was hospitalised in Zimbabwe. Rufaro went through several tests before being diagnosed.

After she was diagnosed, Her parents rallied around to raise money for her treatment whilst in hospital as the medical bills piled up. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease and treatment she required at the time plus treatment was becoming very expensive Rufaro was then moved to South Africa for further tests.
This was a critical decision for her parents at the time and had to get permission for her to fly to SA as she was critical and her heart was weak and could not withstand that long journey. The doctors told them it was a 50/50 chance she could make it or she could have a heart attack enroute and lose her and the parents took the risk. Rufaro as a student in South Africa had medical insurance and this helped with her medical costs at the time.
Whilst in hospital, her treatment required that her immune system be under suppressants. During that period she was susceptible to contracting infectious diseases. With a rigorous treatment regime for the whole year, the disease went into remission and she appeared to have fully recovered.
This year 2022, Rufaro decided to go back to University in February to finish her studies. After a month Rufaro became unwell again. She was hospitalised, the disease has come back again, this time in an aggressive manner and affected her kidneys badly that she had kidney failure.
She commenced dialysis and has so far had three sessions of the treatment. Drs have also indicated the possibility of a kidney transplant for her to live a normal and happy life. Dialysis is quite expensive and obviously will not be possible without financial intervention.

At just 24 she has also become hypertensive.Despite her condition, Rufaro remains a jovial , confident girl and has an infectious smile.Help this angel realize her dream of finishing her studies , to be a well esteemed graduate and having an improved quality of life. She is determined to go all the way, but ,this is only possible with your support.

We need support to enable her to undergo her dialysis which has been scheduled for twice per week sessions and for any future and present medical bills support and any cost she might incur due to her illness.

This campaign is being raised by her uncle and aunty Darlington and Sharon Nyamutswa based in the UK. Sharon is Rufaro’s aunty, her mum’s younger sister. Once all the funds have been raised, all proceeds will be transferred to Rufaro’s account.

Please find it in your hearts to help this young lady live a better life through treatment. she has gone through tremendous pain for such a young lady.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Rufaro now in hospital below