Fundraiser scheduled Thursday
Milwaukee woman needs double lung transplant after battling coronavirus
Fundraiser scheduled Thursday
Hide Transcript Show Transcript
HOSPITALIZED ACROSS THE STATE. 284 OF THOSE IN INTENSIVE CARE. THIS WEEK, THE COMMUNITY IS RALLYING TO COME TOGETHER BEHIND A MILWAUKEE WOMAN. AFTER A MONTHS-LONG BATTLE WITH COVID-19, SHE HAS BEEN LEFT WITH PERMANENT LUNG DAMAGE. CARMEN IS KNOWN THROUGHOUT MILWAUKEE AS A COMMUNITY LEADER. 12 NEWS’ CHERNEY AMHARA HAS HER PSTORY. CHERNEY: WE LAST SPOKE TO CARMEN LERMA LAST YEAR, IN HER NATURAL ELEMENT, BEING INTERVIEWED ON SPANISH RADIO, KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED. AS A DIRECTOR AT UMOS, FIGHTING FOR OTHERS IS HER PASSION. BUT RIGHT NOW, SHE’S FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE. HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS MORNING? >> TODAY, IT’S A LITTLE CHALLENGING. THIS CORONAVIRUS ATTACKED ME IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE THAT IT COULD. CHERNEY: RIGHT NOW, IT’S STILL HARD TO BREATHE. HER BATTLE STARTED BACK IN JULY, SPENDING 45 DAYS IN ICU ON A VENTILATOR AT ASCENSION ST. FRANCIS. SHE HAS SINCE TESTED NEGATIVE, BUT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE. >> I GOT DOUBLE PNEUMONIA, I GOT ATTACKED THROUGH MY IMMUNE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, MY LUNGS WERE THE MOST DAMAGED. CHERNEY: RIGHT NOW, SHE REMAINS HOSPITALIZED, ON THE ORGAN DONATION LIST, IN NEED OF A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT. >> I’M LITERALLY ON 100% OXYGEN, WHICH IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING. CHERNEY: CARMEN DIDN’T HAVE ANY UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND QUIT SMOKING SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW AS SHE FIGHTS, SHE’S SHARING HER STORY AS A MESSAGE TO OTHERS. TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE RISKS OF COVID-19. >> PUT YOUR MASK ON. MAYBE YOU DON’T CARE, BUT PROTECT YOUR PARENTS, YOUR KIDS, YOUR GRANDPARENTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BATTLE THE MOST. CHERNEY: CHERNEY AMHARA, WISN 12 NEWS. MATT: ON THURSDAY, THERE WILL BE A FUNDRAISER AT SABOR TROPICAL, A PUERTO RICAN RESTAURANT IN BAYVIEW, WITH PROCEEDS BENEFITTING HER HOSPITAL COSTS. FOR MORE
Milwaukee woman needs double lung transplant after battling coronavirus
Fundraiser scheduled Thursday
A fundraiser scheduled for Thursday aims to support a Milwaukee woman fighting to leave the hospital following a long battle with COVID-19. Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in WisconsinCarmen Lerma is known across Milwaukee as a community leader.In her day job as a director at UMOS, she works to help the people of Milwaukee. Now, the is community coming to her rescue after the coronavirus left her with permanent lung damage.”Today, it’s a little challenging,” Lerma said. “This coronavirus attacked me in every way possible that it could.”For Lerma, it’s still hard to speak and breathe.Her battle began in July when she tested positive and spent 45 days on a ventilator in the ICU.She has since tested negative, but not before irreversible damage was done.”I got double pneumonia. I got attacked through my immune system,” Lerma said. “However, my lungs were the most damaged.”Now, Lerma remains hospitalized, on the organ donation list in need of a double lung transplant.”I’m literally on 100% oxygen, which is even more challenging,” Lerma said.Lerma said she didn’t have any underlying health conditions and quit smoking several years ago.Now, as she fights, she’s hoping sharing her story could save a life.”Put your mask on,” Lerma said. “Maybe you don’t care, but protect your parents, your kids, your grandparents, because they are the ones that are going to battle the most.The fundraiser Thursday is at Sabor Tropical at 2258 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. It starts at 6 p.m.Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
MILWAUKEE —
A fundraiser scheduled for Thursday aims to support a Milwaukee woman fighting to leave the hospital following a long battle with COVID-19.
Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin
Carmen Lerma is known across Milwaukee as a community leader.
In her day job as a director at UMOS, she works to help the people of Milwaukee. Now, the is community coming to her rescue after the coronavirus left her with permanent lung damage.
“Today, it’s a little challenging,” Lerma said. “This coronavirus attacked me in every way possible that it could.”
For Lerma, it’s still hard to speak and breathe.
Her battle began in July when she tested positive and spent 45 days on a ventilator in the ICU.
She has since tested negative, but not before irreversible damage was done.
“I got double pneumonia. I got attacked through my immune system,” Lerma said. “However, my lungs were the most damaged.”
Now, Lerma remains hospitalized, on the organ donation list in need of a double lung transplant.
“I’m literally on 100% oxygen, which is even more challenging,” Lerma said.
Lerma said she didn’t have any underlying health conditions and quit smoking several years ago.
Now, as she fights, she’s hoping sharing her story could save a life.
“Put your mask on,” Lerma said. “Maybe you don’t care, but protect your parents, your kids, your grandparents, because they are the ones that are going to battle the most.
The fundraiser Thursday is at Sabor Tropical at 2258 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. It starts at 6 p.m.
Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISN
Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
