Support for Rebecca Gutman
Donation protected
Rebecca is a 20 year old who was living and working on Long Island in hopes of returning to Stony Brook University to start her third semester. She is a Health Science Major with hopes of becoming a Physicians Assistant. She is the 4th of 6 children in her family and mom Erin Gutman describes her as motivated and hard working. Last summer Rebecca was working two full-time jobs to save money for school. During the day she was a life guard on our beaches. During the night she worked as a waitress. During Rebecca's freshman year at Stony Brook, she became ill and was immediately referred to Mass General Hospital where she was diagnosed with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis. Her treatment included multiple oral medications including 6 months of prednisone and infusions of a drug called Rituxin taking between 6-4 hours an infusion. She would need to receive this infusion for the rest of her life.
This past December Rebecca became acutely ill. After several trips to the Emergency room she was ultimately admitted with a massive infection (Mastoiditis) which led to the need for surgery (Mastoidectomy). She suffered multiple complications including menengitis, kidney failure, multiple infections and more pain then any person should endure- certainly more pain than a mother should ever witness, although her mom Erin never left her side. She also had issues with blood clots that will need to be treated with the costly medication Xarelto. After a harrowing but heroic 3 week stay in New York Hospitals, Mom Erin was able to bring Becca home. She is now being followed by multiple specialists at Mass Eye and Ear and still is struggling with infection, pain, fatigue and unclear treatment path.
Like any hardworking young woman, Becca just wants to get back to her life as a student. She wants to go back to work, school and back to her friends. Becca has been out of work for two months now and the bills, both her normal expenses of rent, car etc and medical bills are adding up quickly. Those of us who have followed this harrowing course have asked what we could do. Please consider donating what you can to help support the road ahead that Becca still has to battle!
Info on Beccas Diagnosis:
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a form of vasculitis—a family of rare disorders characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow and damage vital organs and tissues. Formerly called Wegener’s granulomatosis, GPA typically affects the sinuses, lungs, and kidneys but can also involve other tissues and organs. GPA can worsen rapidly, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent organ damage or failure.In early stages, GPA symptoms resemble a common cold with persistent runny nose and nasal congestion, but may include nosebleeds, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, sinus pain, hoarseness or middle ear symptoms. Besides potential damage to the kidneys and respiratory tract, other serious complications may include vision or hearing loss, heart disease, and stroke.
GPA is a potentially serious but treatable disease. Corticosteroids such as prednisone are used in combination with medications that suppress the immune system, to control inflammation. Even with effective treatment, relapse can occur, so ongoing medical follow-up is usually necessary.
The course of treatment for GPA depends on the organs affected and disease severity. Patients with milder disease are commonly prescribed corticosteroids such as prednisone, in combination with an immunosuppressant drug called methotrexate, to control inflammation.
Patients with severe disease may be prescribed the biologic drug rituximab, used in conjunction with corticosteroids. Rituximab was approved in 2011 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of GPA and another form of vasculitis, microscopic polyangiitis. Biologic medications are complex proteins derived from living organisms. Biologics target certain parts of the immune system to control inflammation.
Another option for those with severe disease is cyclophosphamide—a chemotherapy-type drug that blocks abnormal growth of certain cells in the body. It is used in combination with prednisone. Cyclophosphamide is usually limited to a three- to six-month period, then replaced with less toxic drugs such as methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, or azathioprine.
Once the disease is in remission, patients will need to continue taking maintenance medications, such as azathioprine, methotrexate or rituximab, to keep the disease under control. The dose of steroids is usually tapered during remission.
Some individuals may experience kidney failure, a serious complication that requires dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. Finally, an option for those with very serious GPA affecting the kidneys or lungs is “plasmapheresis.” Plasmapheresis is a dialysis-like procedure that clears proteins from the plasma of the blood and replaces it with plasma from a donor, or with a plasma substitute.
This past December Rebecca became acutely ill. After several trips to the Emergency room she was ultimately admitted with a massive infection (Mastoiditis) which led to the need for surgery (Mastoidectomy). She suffered multiple complications including menengitis, kidney failure, multiple infections and more pain then any person should endure- certainly more pain than a mother should ever witness, although her mom Erin never left her side. She also had issues with blood clots that will need to be treated with the costly medication Xarelto. After a harrowing but heroic 3 week stay in New York Hospitals, Mom Erin was able to bring Becca home. She is now being followed by multiple specialists at Mass Eye and Ear and still is struggling with infection, pain, fatigue and unclear treatment path.
Like any hardworking young woman, Becca just wants to get back to her life as a student. She wants to go back to work, school and back to her friends. Becca has been out of work for two months now and the bills, both her normal expenses of rent, car etc and medical bills are adding up quickly. Those of us who have followed this harrowing course have asked what we could do. Please consider donating what you can to help support the road ahead that Becca still has to battle!
Info on Beccas Diagnosis:
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a form of vasculitis—a family of rare disorders characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow and damage vital organs and tissues. Formerly called Wegener’s granulomatosis, GPA typically affects the sinuses, lungs, and kidneys but can also involve other tissues and organs. GPA can worsen rapidly, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent organ damage or failure.In early stages, GPA symptoms resemble a common cold with persistent runny nose and nasal congestion, but may include nosebleeds, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, sinus pain, hoarseness or middle ear symptoms. Besides potential damage to the kidneys and respiratory tract, other serious complications may include vision or hearing loss, heart disease, and stroke.
GPA is a potentially serious but treatable disease. Corticosteroids such as prednisone are used in combination with medications that suppress the immune system, to control inflammation. Even with effective treatment, relapse can occur, so ongoing medical follow-up is usually necessary.
The course of treatment for GPA depends on the organs affected and disease severity. Patients with milder disease are commonly prescribed corticosteroids such as prednisone, in combination with an immunosuppressant drug called methotrexate, to control inflammation.
Patients with severe disease may be prescribed the biologic drug rituximab, used in conjunction with corticosteroids. Rituximab was approved in 2011 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of GPA and another form of vasculitis, microscopic polyangiitis. Biologic medications are complex proteins derived from living organisms. Biologics target certain parts of the immune system to control inflammation.
Another option for those with severe disease is cyclophosphamide—a chemotherapy-type drug that blocks abnormal growth of certain cells in the body. It is used in combination with prednisone. Cyclophosphamide is usually limited to a three- to six-month period, then replaced with less toxic drugs such as methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, or azathioprine.
Once the disease is in remission, patients will need to continue taking maintenance medications, such as azathioprine, methotrexate or rituximab, to keep the disease under control. The dose of steroids is usually tapered during remission.
Some individuals may experience kidney failure, a serious complication that requires dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. Finally, an option for those with very serious GPA affecting the kidneys or lungs is “plasmapheresis.” Plasmapheresis is a dialysis-like procedure that clears proteins from the plasma of the blood and replaces it with plasma from a donor, or with a plasma substitute.
Organizer and beneficiary
Holly Hake Brown
Organizer
Hyannis, MA
Rebecca Gutman
Beneficiary