A Journey Embraced

My name is Tim Ray and I am trying to help my sister-in-law Gina.  Gina is a wonderful, vivacious, intelligent, inspiring and caring Aunt to my three children.  She is also a devoted daughter, who is currently active with getting her parents settled into their new home due to their declining health.   Gina has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.   This diagnosis shocked us all because she is healthy, enjoys working, hiking, yoga and supporting various charitable organizations.  She is never one to complain.  She just thought the symptoms she was experiencing - bloating, fatigue, stomach aches, body aches, etc. - were just the result of current stressful events in her life as she was trying to balance work, family and unbeknownst to her - her declining health.  She visited several specialists in Florida and really did nothing significant about her symptoms.

Gina resides in California, but on her last trip to the east coast in early August 2015 to help her parents, she was now experiencing severe stomach aches and internal bleeding. My wife and I insisted that she fly to the NY area, where we reside, to visit a well respected Gynecologic Oncologist. Blood tests, PET scans and Ultrasounds were done STAT and within days the Doctor immediately scheduled her for an urgent debulking surgery on 9/15/2015. Her Doctor advised her and her medical insurance company that she could not travel. She was in the hospital for 5 days at which point the pathology came back and the diagnosis was Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. The cancer had progressed into other parts of her body. We were all shocked!

We then brought her to our home for post op recovery. We are blessed that she is able to stay with our family during this time and be under the care of an outstanding and compassionate team of doctors here in the New York area. She is currently in good spirits, but has a long road of chemo treatments ahead.

Here’s the kicker! After initially approving coverage, Gina's health insurance company advised us that her California policy WILL NOT COVER HER out-of-state treatments and they are refusing to pay for the surgery, hospital stay, constant testing and chemotherapy. The chemotherapy is the only thing that can keep her alive right now and fight this cancer. Her Doctors have called on her behalf and we have appealed and filed grievances with her Medical Insurance company. However, the Insurance Company keeps denying all claims and we have over $200,000 worth of medical bills with more piling up each week.  Gina is a motivated and ambitious woman and would love nothing more than to get back to work, but her Doctor is advising the family that rest, nutrition and a stress-free environment are the keys to her survival...the rest is up to us.

As part of this campaign, we are seeking 3 things:

1. Prayers - as many as you can give. They truly bring both strength, inspiration and tranquility to all.

2. Donations - but only to the extent that you can - we are not looking to burden anyone or take from any other cause or for any individual to "break the bank". We need to cover various expenses for the initial hospital surgery, the 18 weekly chemo treatments as well as post chemo therapies and future medical procedures.

3. Awareness - We are asking that anyone that reads this and it resonates with them that they forward it to as many people as possible and post the link on social media accounts with the goal of hitting 100,000 inboxes. Please tell the women in your life (your wife, mother, daughter, sister and all friends and family) to be aware of their bodies and take any changes seriously. It is far too common for people to put aside symptoms and attribute them to age, stress, female discomfort, etc. - awareness and a call to action can save lives! It is also imperative that you check the fine print on your insurance policy, as there are so many hidden loopholes that result in the consumer being unprotected at their greatest time of need. Imagine if only 1% of the 100,000 targets takes action and discovers a hidden danger that can then be addressed - that would mean potentially saving 1,000 lives...that would be doing something special. Gina will use this forum to discuss her symptoms, update her journey and provide strength and support to anyone who is experiencing the same thing or knows a loved one in a similar situation. Every little bit can really make a difference!

Gina's Stage IV Ovarian Cancer journey began in mid-August and she remains strong, proud and positive, but the stress of the compounding costs of the surgery, hospital stay, radiology, weekly blood testing, and on-going chemotherapy treatments are taking their toll on her.  I want to help in any way possible and I know if you met her along this path we call "life" that you would too! Because Gina loves poetry and photography, I have shared the following personal words and campaign image with you.  
Thank you all in advance.



“A Journey Embraced”
 
As I briskly meander
On this first fall day in September
The wind caresses my hair
The myriad orange-red-yellow hued leaves
Dizzyingly whirl around my body
 
I listen to the wind
As it sings it's symphony
Of an impending storm
Yet I hear notes of encouragement

I remain still for a moment…
The wind's melody fill me with joy 
As I hear the footsteps
Of inspired and courageous souls
Who have traveled this path before me

I meditate on the steep,
Yet scenic vertical climb ahead
I am ready to face this challenge
With fierceness, tenacity and exuberant adventure

My road begins with more love and support
Than I ever can have imagined
I feel love and strength in every facet of my life
Each and every caring soul I meet on my ascent
Inspires me to embrace this journey
And encourages me to ascend the mountain

Gina….September 2015