Daiana Velovich, a 33-year-old woman from Neuquén, was diagnosed with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease at the young age of 14. Currently, she requires an operation to maintain her sight, which can only be carried out in a clinic in Buenos Aires. However, she initially might not afford the associated costs, but thanks to the help and generosity of people, she managed to raise almost a million pesos in two days following her story was shared in the local media. Velovich had previously carried out two campaigns for the same purpose and started the third campaign on Monday, accompanied by her mother.
Velovich’s objective for the operation is to remove an implant placed in her eyes eight years ago that regulates pressure, as it got infected. Although the operation is simple, it is crucial for her sight. She has several tumors and cysts throughout her body due to her VHL, and she has undergone almost 40 surgeries so far. Despite her condition, she runs a laundromat business and lives a regular life with her son.
Velovich’s main source of energy and inspiration is her son, who drives her every day, and she wants to set an example to everyone by moving on despite the severity of her illness. She expressed her gratitude towards the people who supported her in her campaigns, and her message to others is always to move on despite the challenges encountered in life.
Daiana Velovich is from Neuquén, she is 33 years old and was diagnosed with a rare disease called Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) at 14. She currently has to undergo an operation to keep her sight. This type of intervention can only be carried out in a clinic in Buenos Aires, and she might not afford all the expenses that this implies. Thanks to the help and solidarity of the people, managed to raise almost a million pesos in two days following her story was shared in the local media.
He had already carried out two campaigns for the same purpose and the third began on Monday. She and her mother went to the newsroom of The Morning Neuquen with the aim of reaching more people. The result was impressive. The intention was that they collaborate with only $100. “It was always my idea to think regarding not asking for more, because I know the condition of everyone and I think that helps me to let people know that I am aware of the whole situation, but that I need to save myself, I need to not lose my sight or something much worse, because I have an infection”, Velovich told in dialogue with TN.
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She assured that she is still shocked by the response and the love of the people who have supported her in all her campaigns. Many collaborated with sums greater than the $100 requested. “The affection is amazing, not only do they donate, but they say such beautiful words to me that make me emotional, some make me cry. There are such kind people. You think when you see the news that there are no good people, but yes, there are good people here, ”she highlighted.
The objective of the operation
The young woman from Neuquén, who is the mother of a teenager, explained that the operation is “simple within everything”, but something very important is at stake. Velovich has an eye implant that regulates pressure. When he got it eight years ago, his pressure was 60, when normal eye pressure levels are between 12 and 19, detailed. That’s why they put an implant in, but it got infected and they have to remove it. They cannot put another prosthesis on him, but they will have to regulate his pressure very frequently.
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Now that he has the necessary money for the entire procedure, he must first go to Córdoba to undergo studies, because have a health problem that they have not been able to diagnose. In the event that his condition improves soon, he hopes to be able to undergo surgery on Wednesday, April 26, at the private clinic Retinólogos Asociados in the City of Buenos Aires.
A life with VHL
Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome causes tumors and cysts throughout the body. Daiana Velovich was diagnosed with this rare disease at 14, but her symptoms began a year earlier, when she had two tumors removed from her ears and had to have her facial nerve cut. She has also developed tumors in her cerebellum, pancreas, kidneys, spinal cord, ovary, another tumor grew in her ear, and she has angiomas in her eyes. At the moment they will do studies in the lungs, because he is presenting symptoms that might mean that abscesses have also developed in those organs.
Diana with her son. This is her favorite photo, she confirmed. (Photo: Courtesy of Daiana Velovich)
This results in a large number of operations. “After the 30 surgeries I did not count more, but there were several, I estimate that 40, no lesshe confirmed. However, she didn’t let her life with VHL stop her. She and her mom have owned a laundromat for five years. “I don’t dare to go out alone because I can’t see and it scares me, but followingwards, I do everything a normal person does: I cook, I clean, I always worked, I live alone with my son, I have my partner. I am quite normal to have so many complications,” she asserted.
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Everything she has, her family, is what drives her to continue. With pride, she affirmed that her son is her most important source of energy: “He makes me get up every dayIt’s my engine. I have to set an example for him.” He also celebrated that he is in seventh grade and is a flag guard.
That same example is what Velovich wants to convey to everyone. She also declared that she will be “eternally grateful” for the anonymous army that gave her another chance even without knowing her. “For me, seeing a little is a lot. I know that no one stops to look at the sky, the trees or such simple things. I can’t see the trees, but I can see the sky, and the light is amazing. I think that people should see the sky more and move on, no matter how much there is a problem, there is always someone who is worse off than us”, he remarked and his message will always be to “move on” despite the severity of the disease or the problem that is encountered. “It is what touches us, life is like that, it is a part of us ”.
2023-04-16 02:10:44
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