Meredith Rocha Memorial
Hi, we are the Grace Community graduating class of 2002. Meredith Rocha was a dear part of our class. We are fundraising for her sons two sons: Morgan and August. Meredith was diagnosed with Common variable immune deficiency in 2010. (CVID) is a type of primary immunodeficiency, which is defined as an immune system dysfunction typically caused by a mutation in a gene or genes.
Meredith was hospitalized 47 times in 10 years since diagnosed. Her functioning immune system was 1/5th that if a normal human and she had 0 natural killer cells. Meredith was born with 2 SA nodes in her heart , pancreas division and missing spinal processes and teeth indicating fetal development interruption at the 4-5 month. Meredith’s 1st immune system failure occurred at 17 but she was not diagnosed until 27. Treatment consist of infused IVIG monthly but Meredith developed aseptic meningitis with each attempt resulting in permanent brain damage and near blindness in her left eye. Meredith’s pancreas had been splinted twice, she had interstitial lung, liver and kidney. Meredith had scarring following multi organ failure from infections.
Doctors said her survival past age 4 was an anomaly and her survival past 30 was a miracle. Meredith lived each day understanding it could be her last. In the end the disease took her, but could never touch her soul which always belonged to Christ! Meredith lived for her boys as long as she could. She would want them to have a normal life now. August was diagnosed her same genetic disorder 2 years ago.
Life expectancy is maxed at 50 and is contingent on time of onset of disease process to diagnoses which average 7 years. Meredith was either a miracle or an accident depending on one’s life view but her boys are not accidents. Meredith fought to have her boys and to keep them.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a blood product prepared from the serum of between 1000 and 15 000 donors per batch. It is the treatment of choice for patients with antibody deficiencies. The total cost of IVIG therapy ranges from $5000 to $10,000. This gofundme not only will help the family alleviate the medical debt from Meredith's health struggle, but also help August's future medical bills as he shoulders the same health circumstances as his mother.
