Hey everyone! My name is Yazmin Rivera, I’m 32 years young and I have Bronchiectasis, a condition in which damage to the airways causes them to widen and become flabby and scarred making it hard to clear mucus and hard to breathe. I had it under control until a few years ago, when suddenly simple tasks such as walking to my car, going up the stairs and even showering overtime became more and more difficult. Those close to me took notice right away. I stopped going places I would normally go, stopped doing things I would normally do and eventually would spent most of my time home.
– The Moment I Knew Something Was Wrong… –
The moment I knew something was wrong was when I was having a hard time showering, YES showering! Once I got out of the shower and I stood in front of the mirror my lips were blue. My fiance, Pedro Rosado, immediately phoned for an ambulance and I was transported into Holyoke Hospital. That is when everything simply turned into a blur for me, three days afterwards I awakened in the Intensive Care Unit, unaware of what was going on. My lungs had overworked themselves so much the medical staff felt the need to place me into a medically induced coma to allow my body and most importantly my lungs to rest. I did no breathing on my own while in the coma, a life saving machine did all the breathing for me, and until this day I am forever grateful for the hospital’s staff and their decision to induce a coma and place me on a breathing machine. I truly and honestly believe their decision saved my life.
– A Year Later, a Year not to be Forgotten.-
A year later, I was diagnosed with End Stage Bronchiectasis and a double lung transplant is my ONLY chance for a long and healthy life. Now let us back up a little, that year can easily be described as the hardest year of my life. The reason for this was the fact that I was unaware of how severe my condition really is. I know, silly of me right? After all I had just awakened from a coma because of the poor health of my lungs. Little by little, like a tree losing its leaves in Autumn, my quality of life diminished. No longer could I chase after my baby cousin, Alexis Diaz, at the park, or go for a walk at the mall and shop like I normally would. Those things, those little little things that seemed of no importance then are what I truly miss now. Okay, back to the year later part… It was then that I was faced with the reality that my life will never be the same, which at the time I only imagined nothing but bad things.
– Life Can do Funny Things –
Just when I was about to give up, when nothing but darkness filled my mind, a blessing was placed upon me (more like placed within me, if you know what I mean hehe). I discovered I was expecting, if you have not gotten the hint, I found out I was pregnant! 2014, was the BEST year of my life. There I was thinking and truly believing that my life was over, a special little angel was gifted to me from above, a special little perfect gift from God Himself. It was then that I realized my life had just begun. I needed to fight and do everything in my power to be here for my baby to be, even if that meant losing my life in the process. Just like that my life had a meaning. I was not afraid if I had to lose my life in order to give another. What I knew and still know now is that I had to do everything I could to deliver a healthy baby. I was fortunate enough to carry to term, 37 weeks to be exact.
– December 18th, 2014: A Special Little Gift –
After a long and difficult pregnancy, despite my very high risk pregnancy and even higher risk delivery, I delivered a healthy baby boy, Damian J. Rosado. Nothing in this Earth can compare the joy that filled my heart the day I met my son, my beautiful, beautiful son. Is this real life or is it just a dream? Yes, it is real life! Wow, what a feeling, being a mother for the first time and what a timing! God knew exactly when to send him my way. It is with him in mind I get thru day by day. Aside from being an awesome mom, I am a kick-ass aunt! I have not one, but two handsome nephews, Dwayne and Dylan. My boys, Damian, Dwayne and Dylan are my life.
– The Reality –
Even with insurance, I will have many uninsured transplant-related expenses, such as co-pays, deductibles, doctor visits, and costly immunosuppressant medications that I will have to take for the remainder of my life. To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for over 30 years and counting. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Northeast Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Any amount will help me and my family cover these very unexpected finances.
Thank you so much for your support, and thank you for taking your time reading this.
Yazmin Rivera
413-693-9235
