HI, we are from Ecuador and our beloved friends Manena is going through a very difficult time. After breast cancer treatment, a patient's life is never the same. Surgeries and treatments have lifelong consequences.

Manena finished her breast cancer treatment in July 2024 but three weeks ago she developed SECONDARY LYMPHEDEMA in her left arm and hand, which is where
the axillary lymph nodes with cancer were removed in 2022.
This irreversible Stage 2 Secondary Lymphedema is affecting our friend's

quality of life by causing an abnormal accumulation of lymphatic fluid that produces persistent swelling, chronic pain, and progressive fibrosis affecting the mobility of the arm and hand. At the moment, the only options to improve her symptoms are

to wear a compression sleeve and glove at all times, do physical therapy,and perform at least 3 manual lymphatic drainage procedures per week on these extremities.

Manena has to undergo a LYMPHATIC VENOUS ANASTOMOSIS that is
done with SUPERMICROSURGERY, this surgery is not performed in Ecuador
due to lack of technology and supplies, Thank God the opportunity has presented itself for Manena to be part of a surgical session where for the first time these surgeries will be performed in our country at the ALFREDO PAULSON HOSPITAL, with a foreign surgeon expert in lymphedema and with the doctors from
the hospital's microsurgery and complex reconstruction team, after this surgery
it is expected that not only will the symptoms improve but that future
complications such as elephantiasis and completely losing mobility of the
arm will be avoided. Our friend is currently limited in many activities, such
as cooking, strenuous exercise, being in very hot places, carrying heavy
objects, keeping her arm bent for long periods of time, and many other
activities that a completely healthy person can do.

Apart from this diagnosis, Manena has had a complication from a preventive
surgery that she performed in November 2024 where, on the recommendation
of her doctors, she made the decision to remove the mammary glands from
her right breast to prevent a relapse of breast cancer in the future, and they
were also going to begin to reconstruct her left breast that was completely
removed in 2022, unfortunately this surgery did not have the expected results.
Doctors in the public health sector had suggested that Manena undergo
several surgeries to correct these complications, but after discussion
with a private reconstructive surgeon, it was decided that this is not an
option for her because she would put her immune system and the
condition of her arm at risk by going in and out of the operating room
multiple times over the course of a year. Her best option is to correct these complications in a single surgery.

This is why we ask for your help and invite everyone to donate. Remember,
no donation is too small, and with this money, we will be able to operate on
our friend. Unfortunately, the surgeries cannot be performed in the public health sector, where Manena has been treated since her breast cancer diagnosis.
They must be performed in the private sector, one in May and the other in July.
Aside from the costs of the surgeries, the medical expenses will be approximately $1,500 dollars per month for at least 5 or 6 months, if not more.

Currently, our friend's only job is at the radio station, where she works once
a week. She's going to keep it because it doesn't require much time or
physical effort, and it's something that helps keep her spirits up. Although
we don't see it on her social media because she always has a smile on her face, Unfortunately, after all these complications, Manena has been diagnosed with depression and is in therapy. Her main concern is being able to be productive
again, along with her 71-year-old mother.

Throughout these months, other fundraising activities will likely be carried
out for our friend, but this website we've created is the main one, and this way,
the funds will be available almost immediately in her accounts to cover the
costs of her operations and all medical expenses. If any of you would like to
make a special donation or have any ideas, please don't hesitate to contact us through the contact links found here.

Thank you all so much. Please keep Manena in your prayers, and we're
counting on your help so our friend can have surgery and return to being
the person we all know her to be.


VANESSA VELEZ

 MARÍA JOSÉ FLORES

 NICOLE CARRERA

 

Yahweh, rapha, elohim
Shaddai, jireh, adonai
Will manifest himself