This is her story:
Lauren Del Vecchio is twenty-six years old. In October of 2007, she found out that her heart was failing her. Her life was instantly changed.
Del Vecchio began experiencing quite a few health issues when she was 18 Ñ muscle weakness, pain, and stomach problems. She was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder called Mixed Connective Tissue Disease overlap Scleroderma. The disease affects the joints and muscles, often leaving the person in pain and very fatigued. Scleroderma attacks the bodyÕs organs by depositing scar tissue until they can no longer function properly. Upon receiving this news at such a young age, Del Vecchio immediately made a promise to herself that she would not let this mysterious illness affect her life. She would live it to the fullest, push her limits, love every day Ñ and she did.
Del Vecchio graduated New York University in 2004, where she studied journalism and philosophy. Throughout school she always worked two, sometimes three jobs, in addition to being a full-time student Ñ and loved every minute. She stayed positive and never allowed the condition to get her down.
In the fall of 2007 her condition took a turn for the worse: Del Vecchio was informed that her condition spread to her heart which was now extensively scarred, pumping at only 15% capacity. She was now classified as a patient with heart failure, diagnosed with dilated Cardiomyopathy.
On the continued search for answers, in January 2008 Lauren and her family decided to visit Cleveland Clinic, the number one hospital for cardiac care in the U.S. There, she spent twelve days in the hospital for extensive testing and procedures. A pacemaker/defibrillator was implanted in her chest and she must continue to follow-up with the doctors in Cleveland for the rest of her life.
Up until this point her family has spent tens of thousands of dollars on treatment to keep Lauren healthy. Her medications alone cost about $300 monthly, and her intense treatment regimen must continue. The scar tissue will never return to normal heart tissue. It is critical that Lauren continues to get top-of-the-line treatment. This includes everything from traditional western medicine, or eastern practices, to the latest breakthrough in adult stem cell therapy or other medical advancements in heart failure research. She is especially interested in the adult stem cell therapy option, which can generate new heart tissue, therefore improving the organÕs function. Stem cell therapy such as this would cost $50,000.
LaurenÕs heart must be monitored closely to ensure the scarring does not progress. Further progression could mean a heart transplant ... something she and her family want to avoid at all costs. Even with insurance, a heart transplant could be financially devastating: a million dollar procedure that entails a multitude of medications and procedures for the rest of her life. Lauren and her family presently see a heart transplant doctor at Columbia Presbyterian to prepare and take part in the long process of getting her on the list should things take a turn for the worse.
Photos Courtesy Knights of Columbus
