Support for Carla
Donativo protegido
WHAT HAPPENED
At the end of January 2018, I received a routine mammogram. This was followed by an ultrasound, biopsy, and MRI. What first looked liked a relatively simple case of breast cancer became more complex and extensive. I am still uncovering the details of the diagnosis and sorting through all the implications, decisions and choices. The first stop in treatment will be surgery, a bilateral mastectomy.
I am on a minimum of a 3-month sabbatical from work. Many people have inquired about how to support me and donate money. Thank you! First of all, your heartfelt support in terms of lovingkindness, prayers and well-wishes is very importance to me and always an inspiration! You can offer these anytime on my CaringBridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlabrennan
THE NEED
I am discovering that even with relatively decent health insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses can escalate quickly. There is a deductible, co-pays to cover, 2nd opinions not covered by insurance. Also, before I can safely go into surgery I needed to resolve a dental problem that flared up recently. A tooth was pulled and will need to be replaced in some way in the future.
I also plan to use alternative medicine to support recovery and healing and to offset side effects of conventional treatment. I have gotten excellent referrals from cancer surviving friends for naturopathic doctors who specialize in complementary health care for cancer patients. I may also use acupuncture. These, and any other alternative medical support, will not be covered by insurance. Other unexpected expenses may also appear.
In May I turn 65 and will start on Medicare with a supplemental plan. I will still have a monthly health insurance payment but it should be less than what I am spending now. Medicare will allow me to expand my health care network.
To set up this GoFundMe campaign, I needed to enter a monetary goal amount. I do not know yet what my full expenses will be. So I made a considered guesstimate. I appreciate your understanding about the hard-to-predict future. Any donation you give - large, small, tiny - will be enormously appreciated and will go to the basics of medical and personal care. Donations can be made anonymously.
LIVELIHOOD
I am the guiding Insight Meditation teacher for the non-profit Bloom of the Present Insight Meditation (BOTP) in Santa Cruz County, CA. This has included teaching regular meditation groups, classes, and retreats. Most people know that my livelihood has come from the generous donations of the people who attend and support my teaching through Bloom of the Present. bloomofthepresent.org
Most donations from my teaching go directly to the BOTP organization. The Guiding Circle of BOTP (the board of directors) then decides annually on a modest monthly stipend to cover basic living expenses. The rest of the donated money goes to pay other BOTP expenses including rental of facilities and publicity costs. I sometimes also receive donations when I teach at other meditation and retreat centers.
This method of living from donations only in Buddhism is called "dana" (meaning generosity in the ancient Pali language.) In other words, no fees are charged for my teaching. It has been a unique, challenging and gratifying experience to make a living by donations alone. You could say we have been “crowdfunding” long before it became a thing! (Was the Buddha the original crowdfunder?)
The BOTP Guiding Circle has generously committed to continuing to offer me a monthly stipend during my 3-month sabbatical (which started March 1, 2018). I am deeply touched by this show of caring support from the Circle and the sangha (community).
THE FUTURE
The course of surgery and treatment is still being determined and I will be updating everyone with new information on my CaringBridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlabrennan.
My follow-up treatment will be determined after the pathology reports are in from analyzing the tissue from the surgery. Radiation and/or chemotherapy may be recommended. Those treatments will begin after adequate healing from the mastectomies. Consequently, it is not known how long the treatment phase will last. It may likely go beyond the 3-month sabbatical.
SPREAD THE WORD
Please let others who may be interested in donating know about this campaign. You can refer them to this GoFundMe site: https://www.gofundme.com/5cidbso
GRATITUDE
If you feel you would like to and can afford to donate to my medical care fund, I am deeply touched and humbled by your kind gesture. If you only want to send well-wishes, I will heartily welcome those!
At the end of January 2018, I received a routine mammogram. This was followed by an ultrasound, biopsy, and MRI. What first looked liked a relatively simple case of breast cancer became more complex and extensive. I am still uncovering the details of the diagnosis and sorting through all the implications, decisions and choices. The first stop in treatment will be surgery, a bilateral mastectomy.
I am on a minimum of a 3-month sabbatical from work. Many people have inquired about how to support me and donate money. Thank you! First of all, your heartfelt support in terms of lovingkindness, prayers and well-wishes is very importance to me and always an inspiration! You can offer these anytime on my CaringBridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlabrennan
THE NEED
I am discovering that even with relatively decent health insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses can escalate quickly. There is a deductible, co-pays to cover, 2nd opinions not covered by insurance. Also, before I can safely go into surgery I needed to resolve a dental problem that flared up recently. A tooth was pulled and will need to be replaced in some way in the future.
I also plan to use alternative medicine to support recovery and healing and to offset side effects of conventional treatment. I have gotten excellent referrals from cancer surviving friends for naturopathic doctors who specialize in complementary health care for cancer patients. I may also use acupuncture. These, and any other alternative medical support, will not be covered by insurance. Other unexpected expenses may also appear.
In May I turn 65 and will start on Medicare with a supplemental plan. I will still have a monthly health insurance payment but it should be less than what I am spending now. Medicare will allow me to expand my health care network.
To set up this GoFundMe campaign, I needed to enter a monetary goal amount. I do not know yet what my full expenses will be. So I made a considered guesstimate. I appreciate your understanding about the hard-to-predict future. Any donation you give - large, small, tiny - will be enormously appreciated and will go to the basics of medical and personal care. Donations can be made anonymously.
LIVELIHOOD
I am the guiding Insight Meditation teacher for the non-profit Bloom of the Present Insight Meditation (BOTP) in Santa Cruz County, CA. This has included teaching regular meditation groups, classes, and retreats. Most people know that my livelihood has come from the generous donations of the people who attend and support my teaching through Bloom of the Present. bloomofthepresent.org
Most donations from my teaching go directly to the BOTP organization. The Guiding Circle of BOTP (the board of directors) then decides annually on a modest monthly stipend to cover basic living expenses. The rest of the donated money goes to pay other BOTP expenses including rental of facilities and publicity costs. I sometimes also receive donations when I teach at other meditation and retreat centers.
This method of living from donations only in Buddhism is called "dana" (meaning generosity in the ancient Pali language.) In other words, no fees are charged for my teaching. It has been a unique, challenging and gratifying experience to make a living by donations alone. You could say we have been “crowdfunding” long before it became a thing! (Was the Buddha the original crowdfunder?)
The BOTP Guiding Circle has generously committed to continuing to offer me a monthly stipend during my 3-month sabbatical (which started March 1, 2018). I am deeply touched by this show of caring support from the Circle and the sangha (community).
THE FUTURE
The course of surgery and treatment is still being determined and I will be updating everyone with new information on my CaringBridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlabrennan.
My follow-up treatment will be determined after the pathology reports are in from analyzing the tissue from the surgery. Radiation and/or chemotherapy may be recommended. Those treatments will begin after adequate healing from the mastectomies. Consequently, it is not known how long the treatment phase will last. It may likely go beyond the 3-month sabbatical.
SPREAD THE WORD
Please let others who may be interested in donating know about this campaign. You can refer them to this GoFundMe site: https://www.gofundme.com/5cidbso
GRATITUDE
If you feel you would like to and can afford to donate to my medical care fund, I am deeply touched and humbled by your kind gesture. If you only want to send well-wishes, I will heartily welcome those!
Organizador
Carla Brennan
Organizador
Ben Lomond, CA
