Dear SOLACE Members,

Tessa, a New Orleans attorney, was recently diagnosed with Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), a very rare  life threatening and rare blood disorder. The treatment is regular transfusions of platelets and plasma.

Tessa is now out of ICU, but is still in the hospital and undergoing daily transfusions. She has gone through over 100 units of blood in less than a week, with the transfusion process taking 3-4 hours a day.

Her two-year-old daugher is being cared for by her parants out-of-state while Tessa's husband remains with Tessa in the hospital.

SOLACE REQUESTS :

1) The most pressing needs are donations of blood as "replacement units" in Tessa's name at any location of "The Blood Center" in Louisiana. The "Replacement Units" can be "credited" to Tessa so that the cost of her transfusions can be reduced. Tessa will continue to require outpatient transfusions indefinitely.

2) Any gift cards for food and gas, and/or prepared meals for the familiy would be very helpful, since Tessa will be unable to tend to family needs for the foreseeable futue.

3) Tessa has health insurance, but there will be bills due to the limits on transfusion allowances.

Help with negotiations with Touro Hospital and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana  to reduce Tessa's final bill and/or any resources or information about assistance for those diagnosed with rare blood diseases would be greatly appreciated .

If you can assist Tessa and her family, please directly contact Sheila at :

teamtessa@smwplc.com for more information.

Thanks.