Help Vanessa get life-saving treatment

On January 24, Vanessa, a senior lecturer at The University of Auckland and NZ citizen, was admitted to Auckland City Hospital and later diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), an ultra-rare, life-threatening disease for which the only treatment proven to be effective is eculizumab (marketed under the brand name Soliris). Eculizumab has been approved in New Zealand but it's not publicly funded.

Eculizumab treatment costs about 100 000 NZD for the first month and then about 60 000 NZD each subsequent month.

Vanessa has savings to cover just the first month of the treatment. Her intention is to get treated in New Zealand for as long as it's necessary for her to be healthy enough to travel to Spain to continue her treatment.

This fundraiser aims to cover 3 months of treatment, at 60 000 NZD/month.

Long-time, dear friend

All the money received through this campaign will go exclusively to support Vanessa's hospital and treatment expenses for as long as it's needed for her to be strong enough to fly to Spain and continue her treatment there.