Stem Cell Drive for Zoki

In pursuit of finding a stem cell donor for Zora Vunduk Ficzko to cure her leukemia. This is where we need YOUR help to save Zora's life! Step 1.

In January 2021, Zora Vunduk Ficzko received a call from her doctor that would immediately change her life forever; she was told she had Leukemia (AML - Acute myeloblastic leukemia). Within two days, she began very aggressive chemotherapy treatment that kept her in the hospital for 30 days, away from her husband and two boys, ages 8 & 10 years old. After her initial hard fought 30 day treatment, s

he was finally reunited with her family. Over the next 6 months, she had 4 more rounds of chemo and spent another 30+ days in the hospital. Through it all, Zora maintained a positive mental attitude and was always JOYFUL, with JOY being her favorite word. She would say “I have the JOY of the Lord in me!”

In September of 2021, after many, many prayers, Zora finally received news that she was in remission from Leukemia!!! She began to feel her normal self again and regained all her strength to be the mommy her boys needed and back to the wife her husband always had! Zora continued routine bi-weekly blood tests, since her chances for her leukemia to return were the greatest during this time. Unfortunately, in February 2022, Zora's doctors confirmed that her leukemia had returned. On Valentine’s Day, 2/14/22, she was admitted back into the hospital to begin aggressive rounds of chemotherapy again. Zora is currently in the hospital and continues to receive active chemo treatments along with platelet and blood transfusions daily as she battles this horrible disease. The doctors have now indicated that she needs a Stem Cell transplant to help save her life. Unfortunately, as the doctors search the Stem Cell donor database which contains donors from across the world, there are currently no viable matches. The doctors have stated that her best options of finding a match are those who share her same ancestry descent {Serbian/Croatian}, age 18-55, and in overall good health. We have partnered up with DKMS.org to assist us in finding a match for Zora. We are turning to the community to help us save this beautiful and loving Christian, wife, daughter, sister and mother. We are hosting a Virtual Drive and are in the process of organizing more in person events in Indiana, Milwaukee and San Diego in the coming weeks! BUT the quickest way to help Zora is to click on the link below. We are not limited to this ancestry pool, everyone can get tested to see if they are a match, if not for Zora perhaps for another person with a similar story. We are in a time crunch and ask you today, if you can please follow a few easy steps to see if you're a match for Zora! Order a swab kit at no cost online using Zora’s direct link. Answer a few simple questions and the kit will be mailed directly to your home. FOR ALL US RESIDENTS, USE THIS LINK:
https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives/zora

TO RECEIVE A KIT OUTSIDE OF THE US:
https://wmda.info/donor/become-a-donor/

Step 2. Swab the inside of your mouth, return your kit promptly via the mail. The results will be analyzed at our lab to determine your HLA typing characteristics – this is how we match donors and patients

Step 3. You're registered! We will be notified once results return and/or if you are a match for Zora! What does it mean if you are a match to donate Stem Cells:
It is very similar to donating blood. A blood collection machine draws blood from you, your blood gets run through a machine, the machine pulls out the stem cells needed for Zora, and the machine returns your blood back to you. This can be done at medical centers near your home and all travel expenses will be covered. Please spread the word and invite all of your friends to this page! With your help, and through God's will, we WILL find the perfect match for Zora!
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U Januaru 2021 Zora Vunduk Ficzko je primila poziv od svog doktora koji će joj odmah zauvijek promijeniti život - rečeno joj je da ima leukemiju (AML - akutna mijeloblastna leukemija). U roku od dva dana započela je vrlo agresivnu kemoterapiju koja ju je držala u bolnici 30 dana, daleko od muža i dva sina - 8 i 10 godina. Nakon prvog teškog 30-dana tretmana, konačno se ponovno spojila sa svojom famelijom. U sljedećih 6 mjeseci imala je još 4 kruga kemoterapije i provela je još 30+ dana u bolnici. Kroz sve to Zora je zadržala pozitivan mentalni stav i uvijek je bila RADOSNA, a radost joj je bila omiljena riječ. Govorila bi "U sebi imam RADOST Hrista!”

U Septembru 2021, nakon mnogo, mnogo molitvi, Zora je konačno dobila vijest da je u remisiji od leukemije. Počela je ponovno osjećati normalno i povratila svu svoju snagu da bude mama potrebna njezinim sinovima i vratila se ženi koju je njezin muž uvijek imao. Zora je nastavila sa rutinskim dvonedeljnim testiranja krvi, budući da su njezine šanse da se leukemija vrati u to vrijeme bile najveće. Nažalost, Zorini doktori su u Februaru 2022 potvrdili da joj se leukemija vratila. Na dan 14.2.22, primljena je nazad u bolnicu kako bi ponovno započela agresivne runde kemoterapije. Zora je trenutno u bolnici i nastavlja primati aktivne kemoterapijske tretmane zajedno sa transfuzijom krvi svakodnevno dok se bori protiv ove strašne bolesti. Doktori su sada naznačili da joj je potrebna transplantacija matičnih ćelija kako bi joj spasili život. Nažalost, dok doktori pretražuju bazu podataka donatora matičnih ćelija koja sadrži donatore iz cijelog svijeta, trenutno nema održivih podudaranja. Ovdje nam treba VAŠA pomoć da spasimo Zorin život! Doktori su izjavili da su joj najbolja opcija za pronalaženje partnera oni koji dijele njezino isto porjeklo {srpski/hrvatski}, od 18 do 55 godina i dobrog zdravlja. Udružili smo se sa DKMS.org kako bi nam pomogli u pronalaženju partnera za Zoru. Obraćamo se vama da nam pomogne spasiti ovu lijepu krišćanku punu ljubavi, suprugu, kćer, sestru i majku. Organiziramo Virtual Drive i u procesu smo organiziranja više osobnih događaja u Indjani, Milvokiju i San Dijegu u nadolazećim nedeljama! Ali najbrži način da pomognete Zori je da kliknete na link ispod. Nismo ograničeni samo na familiju, svako se može testirati da se vidi jesu li par, ako ne za Zoru, možda za drugu osobu sa sličnom pričom. U škripcu smo vremena i danas vas pitamo, možete li slijediti nekoliko jednostavnih koraka da vidite odgovarate li Zori? Korak 1: Naručite komplet za bris besplatno online putem Zorine direktne veze. Odgovorite na nekoliko jednostavnih pitanja i komplet će vam biti poslan direktno vašoj kuci. DA DOBIJETE KOMPLET KIT Izvan SAD-a:
https://wmda.info/donor/become-a-donor/

ZA SVE NAS STANOVNIKE U AMERICI, NASTAVITE KORISTITI OVAJ LINK:
https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives/zora

Korak 2: Očistite unutrašnjost usta, vratite komplet odmah poštom. Rezultati će biti analizirani u našem laboratoriju kako bi se utvrdile karakteristike vaše HLA tipizacije – na ovaj način spajamo donore i pacijente

Korak 3: Registrirani ste! Bit će te obaviješteni kada se rezultati vrate i/ili odgovarate li Zori.

Što znači ako želite donirati matične stanice:
Vrlo je slično davanje krvi. Aparat za vađenje krvi od vas vadi krv, vaša krv prolazi kroz mašinu, mašina izvlači matične stanice potrebne za Zoru, a mašina vam vraća krv nazad. To možete učiniti u medicinskim centrima u blizini vaše kuće i svi putni troškovi će biti pokriveni. Molimo proširite vijest i pozovite sve svoje prijatelje na ovu Facebook stranicu! Uz Vašu pomoć, i Božjom voljom, NAĆI ĆEMO ZORI savršenog partnera.

10/18/2022

Message FROM ZORA! She had her Stem cell transplant yesterday. Finished around 2:00 pmCST. Thank you all for continued prayers!! 💕🥰🙏🙏💪💪

“The Lord has brought a miracle of healing to me and today is the day I will receive my stem cell transplant. Should begin in the next half hour. Lots of prayers needed over today and the next few weeks/months for me Please pray for me, pray for side effects and complications to be minimal and controllable and for the cells to engraft into my bone marrow to start making new healthy cells. ( could take 2-5++weeks)

Love u all so much and your prayers for me and my family is what keep my JOY of the Lord flowing!”

Zora and her family would like to take this time to heal, please check back here for any updates as to her progress. Please continue to pray for her! 🙏❤️

Thank you God for this miracle!! ❤️

Photos from Stem Cell Drive for Zoki's post

07/31/2022

Beautiful day yesterday at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church - Merrillville, Indiana Serb Fest!! Amazing food, drinks, music and perfect weather made for a successful day! We were also able to add 35 more people to the Stem Cell registry! 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you to everyone who helped make this drive a success! We appreciate your support! ❤️

Remember, if you can’t attend our in person events, you can always order a kit online to be delivered to your house! Here is the link:

https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives/zora

If you have already ordered a kit, here is your reminder to return your swabs!! Thank you so much!! ❤️

07/28/2022

Information regarding our next in person event!! We will see all of you this Saturday at Serb Fest at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church - Merrillville, Indiana!! Look for our table from 12pm-10pm on July 30th and see how you can be added to the Stem Cell Database to become a lifesaving donor!! You could be a match for Zora or another Serbian brother or sister in need! It’s quick and easy, so stop by! For more information regarding this cultural festival, please visit www.serbfest.org

If you can’t make this event, you can always order a kit and have it delivered to your house using the following link:

https://www.dkms.org/zora

If you have already ordered a kit, please remember to return your swabs! We still have a significant amount of swabs that have not been returned. Thank you!!!

Together, we delete blood cancer. DKMS US is part of the world's largest network of bone marrow donor centers with over 10 million registered donors. Register today - DKMS.org/register

06/20/2022

50!! We were able to add 50 more people to the Stem Cell Donor database!! A huge thank you goes out to Morava Folklore Ensemble and Father Bratso for allowing us to host a drive at the annual Folkfest! Your continuous support in our pursuits mean everything to us!

Thank you to all who stopped by and swabbed to see if you could be the ONE for our Zora! We appreciate you so much! ❤️

Remember if you can’t attend one of our in person events, you can always order a kit here:

https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives/zora

The kit will be delivered to your house! Simply, follow the directions and return the kit!

Stay tuned for information on our next in person event! 😘

06/13/2022

Our next in person event will be this Saturday, June 18 at St. George - Serbian Orthodox Church San Diego, California for Morava Folklore Ensemble’s annual FOLKFEST!! An event that Zora danced in for many years when she was growing up. Please consider stopping by our table for a quick swab of your cheek to see if you could be the ONE to save this former Morava members life!
( if you are not able to make it you can still order a free kit at www.dkms.org/zora )

See you in sunny San Diego! ❤️

Zora's Story Join us in the fight against blood cancer!

06/12/2022

107! We had 107 people step up and swab to see if they’re a match for our sister Zora. From the bottom of our hearts we can’t thank all of you enough! Thank you to the 2022 SNF Basketball Tournament - Lansing, IL for hosting us this weekend, we truly appreciate your support! Thank you to the volunteers, who helped work this event, we couldn’t have done it without you!

It was wonderful to see old friends and meet so many new people. Many of you shared your experiences of how cancer has touched your lives and those of your loved ones. Thank you for the stories of hope, and taking the time to offer your support! ❤️

Our next in person event will be at the St. George - Serbian Orthodox Church San Diego, California for the Morava Folklore Ensemble’s annual Folkfest on June 18! More information to follow!

06/11/2022

So far we have swabbed 86 people at the 2022 SNF Basketball Tournament - Lansing, IL!!! 🎉🎉 We’ll be there again tonight, and we’re aiming to get 125 people swabbed during this event!! Let’s try to get even more than that!! If you haven’t stopped by yet, we would love to meet you and do a quick 5 minute swab to see if you’re a match for our sister Zora!

Thank you to all who have swabbed! You have no idea how much we appreciate your support! 🙏❤️

06/10/2022

Night 1 of 2022 SNF Basketball Tournament - Lansing, IL was a success, especially with this cute volunteer we recruited! Come visit Mila and the rest of us to get swabbed and added to the Stem Cell Donor Database! YOU could be the ONE to save a life! ❤️

Thank you to all of you who stopped by tonight! We really appreciate it! ❤️

06/08/2022

We are so thankful and blessed to have the support last weekend of Sveta Petka San Marcos , California to help host these Stem Cell drives for Zora and the whole Serbian Community!! ❤️ Here are pictures from KOLO FEST. Thank you to everyone who tested to see if they are a match!

Stay tuned regarding the date and time of our next in person event!! If you can’t make it to our live in person events, remember, you can always order a kit to be delivered to your home!

https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives/zora

For those who have already ordered a kit, please remember to return your swabs!! Thank you!!

06/05/2022

Our next Stem Cell drive will be at 2022 SNF Basketball Tournament - Lansing, IL!! We will be at the Hammond Sports Complex on Friday and Saturday & at the Lansing Hall every night from Thursday through Saturday!! Please come by our table and see if you can be a match to SAVE A LIFE!! ❤️

We are still looking for volunteers to help work at this event! You will be helping people fill out forms and timing them to make sure they have swabbed their cheeks for the allotted time. Don’t worry, we’ll show you what to do! 😉 If you have spare time to help, please click on the link below and select a time that works for you! Thank you so much!

https://stemcelldriveforzora.ivolunteer.com/

Zora's Story Join us in the fight against blood cancer!

06/02/2022

Calling all Supporters!! We need your help! We will be hosting a Stem Cell Drive at the 2022 SNF Basketball Tournament - Lansing, IL and we need volunteers to work at the table with us, collecting samples from all the people willing to see if they are a match for Zora or any others in need of a stem cell transplant. We will need volunteers at the Church hall and at the gym. Please click on the link below and select a location, pick a date and time you are available, then lastly, enter your email address and name. You will then receive an email verification with the time and date you volunteered for. You can volunteer for more than one location and for as many time slots as you are available for! 😊 If you have any question do not hesitate to reach out!! Thank you all so much! ❤️

Stem Cell Drive for Zora Vunduk Ficzko

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Website

https://www.dkms.org/zora

Address

18550 Stony Island Ave
Lansing, IL
60438-4506

Stem Cell Drive for Zoki

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