Yazmin Rivera

#TeamYaya413

Hey everyone! My name is Yazmin Rivera Colón, I’m 38 years young, 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 received a double lung transplant on June 4th, 2016. Had an amazing and fast recovery. I enjoyed my new lungs and loved them too the fullest. Unfortunately due to having had COVID, both of my new lungs were re-damaged and Im on the waiting list once again. Currently, I need help for travel to Boston for constant appointments, checkups, parking fees, tolls etc. Sometimes my appointments are so back to back that requires me booking a hotel nearby for the night. Simple tasks such as walking to my car, going up the stairs and even showering have once again become more and more difficult. I am a mother to a wonderful 7 year old, Damian, whom is my miracle baby. I found out I was expecting when I was about to be placed on the list initially. Multiple doctors advised me to get an abortion due to the severity of my condition. I chose to have my son and postponed the transplant.

– 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, I discovered I was expecting, 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. Nothing on 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 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 Colon & Family

#RestinPeaceMom, you are my guardian angel