At 21 years old, Lukene Trujillano has been forced to stop. Under-23 cyclist has been out of the peloton for more than a year facing a health problem for which she does not have a clear diagnosis and for which she cannot be treated in Spain. Desperate to recover not only the sport she loves but also her life, she has launched a campaign to raise funds to allow her to undergo an operation in Belgium. Under the motto: “A new year, one wish: to recover my health”, the cyclist has not hesitated to ask for help and in just a few days has managed to raise 2,390 euros.
“Some signs I didn’t understand”
“Hello, I am Lukene Trujillano, I am 21 years old and I am a U23 cyclist. I have always been linked to sports and cycling, but more than a year ago my body began to send me signals that I did not understand and that little by little they have limited me more and more,” the athlete begins before revealing the details of her tough battle against the disease. A rare pathology for which she does not find a solution in Spain.
“It all started with loss of strength in the left leg, a feeling of pressure when the effort intensified, tingling and color changes in the foot, which turned white after training or even when cold. As the months passed, the symptoms appeared earlier and with greater intensity. I have tried to find a solution through public health in Spain. Luckily, knowledge about this pathology seems to be advancing, and there are professionals eager to give it the place it deserves and find real solutions for athletes. “I am very grateful for that work and for the steps that are being taken,” she says.
A process that is being much slower and harder than the athlete expected: “After more than a year of tests, referrals and waiting, I still do not have a definitive diagnosis or a clear solution, and this situation is beginning to be unsustainable for me, both on a sporting and personal level. Recently I had an arterial Doppler echo of the lower limbs at rest and after claudichometry (exertion).. The results showed important alterations, such as an increase in systolic velocity, the presence of aliasing and a decrease in blood pressure, in both iliac arteries, in addition to involvement in the left femoral artery and also in the abdominal aorta, something that especially caught the attention of the doctor who performed the test.”
Iliac artery endofibrosis
Although his symptoms manifested mainly in the left leg, the findings were bilateral, which makes the case more complex. Today, Everything points to a possible endofibrosis of the iliac artery, a rare pathology closely linked to high-level sports.although Lekane admits that he still does not have a final diagnosis or a clear roadmap.
“My goal now is to be able to access a more complete specialized assessment, with specific tests and professionals with experience in this type of sports pathology, to confirm the diagnosis and decide on the best possible treatment. I have found a hospital in Belgium, specifically in Aalst, in which they performed the tests and subsequently the operation. This process involves travel, advanced studies and, depending on the result, treatment that I cannot afford financially on my own,” he adds.
A high cost that has led him to open this crowdfunding campaign. “It is not an easy decision, but it is necessary to be able to take care of my health, recover an active life and not give up the sport that has been part of me since I was a child,” sentence before thanking any help that may come to you.
