MAPAVI (non profit organization, see www.mapavi.com), the Peruvian Consulate in Washington DC and other institutions from the Washington Metro Area will conduct a Press Conference to launch public support and solidarity for Maribel Perez-Vargas, a young mother (35) of two kids that urgently needs lung transplant. She is currently at Specialty Hospitals of Washington DC (SHW). 

When: Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, at 11.00 hrs. 

Where: Centro Diocesano

Apostolado Hispano

Catholic Diocesis of Arlington

80 North Glebe Road

Arlington VA 22203

 WOMAN ASKS FOR HELP OF THE COMMUNITY TO SAVE HER LIFE

By Consuelo Medina/Washington Hispanic

Due to a pulmonary cystic fibrosis, Maribel Perez Vargas must breathe through a  mechanical ventilator.  Due to her very delicate state of health, the only solution is a pulmonary transplant.

Talking to her and seeing Maribel Perez-Vargas face (35 years of age) full of hope and desire to live, her vitality contradicts the reality in which she lives.  She has been at the Specialty Hospital of Washington DC for some time, and breathes thanks to a mechanical ventilator.  Maribel needs a lung transplant or her hope to live is reduced to 10 months.  Maribel suffers from a Lung Cystic Fibrosis condition, detected in 2006, and since that date she has fought to be operated on.   The face of Maribel, who has two children 9 and 11 years of age, lights up when she hears that there is a new hope for her to live.  That is because once again, when they told her the that her condition was one which was inoperable, Dr. Mark Gladwin, from the University of Pittsburgh and  a specialist on this matter of lung transplants, assured her that they were willing to make another evaluation  in order to determine if she is or is not a candidate for the transplant.

$80,000 is needed to cover the expenses for her lung transplant.

This news filled Maribel with great hope, who practices a daily hour of exercise on a stationary bike in her room.  Yet, even though she has Medical Insurance with Kaiser Permanente, which ends on September 2010, this insurance does not cover 100% of the amount needed for the transplant.  She needs $80,000 to cover the copayments.

Her enthusiastic voice breaks down when she thinks about her children and spouse. It breaks when she thinks she may not receive the transplant.  She says “in that case , if that happens, I will not be able to console my children.  I will need my mother who lives in Peru, where I would have to go.  The last thing I will loose is hope”, she finished with a smile on her face.

LINE OF HELP FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO HELP MARIBEL

The Consul General of Peru in Washington, DC has informed us that he has been working on this case, together with other institutions and a volunteer community group “Friends of Maribel”,  in order to unleash a campaign to obtain the $80,000 .  This campaign is being undertaken by newspaper articles and television.

For anyone who wishes to help please call telephone 703-628-8302. We all can help.