A special evening as we celebrate 30 years of hope, passion, and life.
This dinner gathered the patients and families who have faced life-threatening diagnoses and today celebrate survivorship, healing, and renewed life. Because of stories like Liudmila Esquerdo’s — and many others — Get Redd Foundation exists today to bring hope, resources, and care to patients and families navigating the bone marrow or stem cell transplant journey.
Ivette Esquerdo was just 16 years old when she selflessly donated her stem cells to her sister, Liudmila, giving her a second chance at life. She and her family felt profoundly blessed that she was a perfect match. Reflecting on her experience, Ivette describes the donor process as simple, painless, and, most importantly, life changing. For those with healthy cells, the downtime is minimal—almost nonexistent—but for patients in need, the impact is immeasurable, offering them hope and a renewed future.
Beyond her donation, Ivette remains deeply committed to the cause. She volunteers her time with Get Redd, actively raising awareness and educating others about the importance of stem cell donation. Through her advocacy, she hopes to inspire more people to register as donors and make a lasting difference in the lives of those battling rare diseases.
Liudmila Esquerdo is a woman of Christian faith who has made it her purpose to help others through their journey. She was once a vibrant, passionate dancer whose energy lit up every room she entered. But in 1995, everything changed when unexplained bruises and crushing fatigue became a daily struggle. At just 19 years old, Liudmila was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder. The diagnosis sent her into a battle for survival, and she urgently needed a bone marrow transplant. Finding a matching donor was no easy task, but in a miracle that would shape the future, Liudmila’s only sister, Ivette, was the perfect match, giving her a second chance at life.
Surviving the transplant was only the beginning. Liudmila transformed her experience into a mission: to raise awareness, provide support for families, advocate for life-saving donors, and fund critical research. Her journey from patient to powerful advocate led her to establish her life’s purpose, Get Redd Foundation, where her passion for helping others continues to ignite change. Liudmila’s belief is simple, yet profound: One match can save a life.
Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is an extremely rare and life-threatening condition where the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the bone marrow, leading to dangerously low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This causes extreme fatigue, a weakened immune system, and a heightened risk of bleeding and infections.
For many patients with SAA, the only chance for survival is a bone marrow transplant (BMT). This procedure involves replacing the damaged or nonfunctioning bone marrow with healthy marrow from a donor, often a sibling. But the path to a successful bone marrow transplant is grueling, and the treatment required is nothing short of intense.
Once the bone marrow transplant is complete, the recovery process can take months, as the new bone marrow begins to grow and produce blood cells. It’s a long, difficult journey, but for many, it’s the only chance for a life beyond the disease. This is when we celebrate the patient’s second birthday. For Liudmila, her rebirth took place on July 24th, 1995.
