Ruff Times - Mamba is Home Alone
Jeric and Melanie Camia are from Delano, CA and currently reside in Wilkes-Barre, PA with their fur baby, Mamba. The Camia’s are a military family resulting in lots of times away from home and loved ones. New places bring new friends, new experiences, and sadly new difficulties. Jeric, Melanie, and Mamba are new to the Pennsylvania area and have been unable to establish close personal relationships in their short time. If you have not heard, Melanie is pregnant with their first baby and was unfortunately hospitalized at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. Melanie was originally admitted on July 9, 2021 in Wilkes Barre PA after her sudden feelings of physical weakness and exhaustion. Although it seemed like a minor situation, Melanie and Jeric were told theirs was a much more serious condition affecting Melanie’s organs and the baby. Doctor after doctor were brought in for weeks trying to discover a cause, but to everyone’s surprise, it remained a mystery. Melanie had showed no symptoms prior and was an active athlete believing her health was okay. After investigating her family history, doctors decided to conduct a kidney biopsy. A few days later, Melanie and her family were given the devastating news that she has 90% kidney failure and would need to be placed on dialysis immediately. Dialysis would be done three times a week; however, because she is pregnant doctors required treatment six times a week. The news happened at the blink of an eye and would change her life, never expecting kidney failure at 26.
Both Melanie and her baby’s health were at risk since she was only 21 weeks along. Very little options remained for the baby as he would be too early for delivery. Shortly after the news, she was transferred to Geisinger Hospital in Danville to better accommodate her needs leaving Jeric and Mamba back home in Wilkes-Barre. To be by Melanie’s side every day, Jeric drives an hour leaving Mamba at home during his hospital visit and comes back at night to care for him. As her condition seemed steady, they hoped to be admitted to a closer hospital for dialysis and to be with Mamba, but Melanie’s blood pressure has had trouble stabilizing and can range between 170-200 throughout the night. They were required to remain in Danville. Soon after, Jeric was given an assignment to perform duties out of state and had no choice but to leave Melanie, Mamba, and their soon to be baby boy back home in Pennsylvania for the next two months. Immediately, Melanie’s mom, Elena, took the first plane out of LAX to be by her side and provide care seamlessly for the Camia’s wherever needed including Mamba. With Jeric gone, having Elena by her side has relieved so much stress and gives Melanie and Mamba a much-needed support system.
Today, Melanie is 26 weeks pregnant and has only become more concerned for her son’s health. She continues to struggle maintaining a normal blood pressure and needs to be monitored closer. Melanie had her water break this week during dialysis, and luckily her mom was in the room able to find medical help as soon as possible. Melanie is now placed under new restrictions requiring her to stay in her room for all treatments due to her high vulnerability and is on a constant baby monitor. It has only become more necessary for Elena to be with her everyday as her baby boy can be delivered at any time and to help Mel feel more comfortable while keeping a watchful eye on her. With risks skyrocketing, we feel the need and want to be by her side now more than ever; however, COVID 19 has made it more difficult to do so.
Our family is unable to be with the Camia’s at such a difficult time, but we hope to show our support in every way possible. Although we are thousands of miles away from her in Pennsylvania, we hope to do all that we can for her from back home in California. Melanie’s pregnancy is in no way the traditional experience, but she remains happy and hopeful despite every obstacle that has been brought in front of her. We want to support her and would like to take one more thing off her plate. We would like to surprise her by covering some of Mambas temporary housing expenses while she remains in the hospital, allowing her mom to be at the hospital everyday with her and giving mamba a home filled with other dogs to keep him company. Melanie is strong and we hope this is one of the many ways we can show that we are fighting right next to her…The Camias, you are not alone.
On behalf of our family, we are grateful for all your love, support, and prayers. We would like to thank you in advance for your generosity.
