This season, 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days brought us the first same-sex couple in the franchise’s history. Half of that couple is Stephanie Matto, a 29-year-old YouTuber from Yonkers, NY.
Part of the drama that will be featured on the show is Stephanie’s battle with aplastic anemia, a rare bone marrow disorder in which the body does not produce enough blood cells.
This can lead to fatigue, bruising, and vulnerability to infections.
Treatment for aplastic anemia differs between patients but can include medications, blood transfusions, or a bone marrow transplant.
Stephanie releases YouTube update
For Stephanie, who has a severe form of aplastic anemia, even very mild infections can be life-threatening.
She has been undergoing immunosuppressive therapy because there is no suitable bone marrow donor for her (bone marrow transplants are the only known cure for aplastic anemia).
Due to her severe health condition, Stephanie sees doctors very regularly. However, due to the coronavirus scare, her doctor advised her not to come to the office for the time being.
She hasn’t had her blood tested since January because she and her doctor decided the risks of going into the office outweighed the benefits of the test.
In her most recent YouTube video, Stephanie explains that she made the decision to go into self-quarantine to avoid possible exposure to the virus.
She asked that everyone remember people do the same for their friends and family members who, like her, are more vulnerable to viral infection.
According to Stephanie, she’s well-prepared for the pandemic. For nearly three years, she’s had to sanitize religiously and worry about transmitting infections due to her diagnosis.
She’s used to the precautions that the rest of us are just starting to adjust to.
She’s paying it forward
Stephanie noted that while she is more vulnerable to the disease, she isn’t feeling the financial effects that many Americans are. As she already works from home on YouTube, she doesn’t have to worry about having her hours cut or losing pay.
To help out those who are struggling to get by, Stephanie says she’s been Venmoing people in need or buying things off Amazon wishlists.
It’s a very kind gesture, and hopefully, others will follow Stephanie’s generous example.
If you can’t help someone financially in need, you can always try to help the more physically vulnerable among us, like Stephanie.
Follow this link to register to be a bone marrow donor to someone who, like Stephanie, is waiting for a transplant. Donors can save a life, and recovery time is usually only a few weeks.
90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days airs on Sundays at 8/7c on TLC.