Susan Goldsmith’s Continued Medical Care
Donation protected
Please take a moment to read about Susan, and her incredibly long battle with cancer, and her continued fight to live, to see her children grow up. She is a Mother, a daughter, a wife, a friend, and a warrior. This family needs all the help they can get, no donation is too small. If you’re unable to donate PLEASE SHARE this family’s struggle.
Thank You! ♥️
This past decade has definitely brought some enormous challenges my way, but through all the diagnoses, treatments and surgeries the biggest challenge has been trying to cover the costs of my medical care while still trying to provide the basic necessities for my children.
This has become all but impossible, with my most recent complications we are having to pay 100% out of pocket for all medications and treatments.
The vast majority of my treatments have not been covered by our insurance, and on the rare occasion something is “covered” it’s only a small fraction of the overall expense.
The primary reason our out of pocket costs have been so high, is that the majority of the treatment options available to me have been “experimental” which means the insurance company deems them “not medically necessary” or my favorite, “not proven” however, my continued ability to see my kids grow up is all the “proof” I need to continue following any treatment protocols my team of doctors deems necessary.
In my journey I have lost my hair three times, both of my breasts, all of my own teeth (chemo and radiation destroy tooth enamel), one kidney, one third of my bladder half of my stomach, and my self confidence.
I have had more surgeries than I have fingers and toes, so I’ve stopped keeping track. Scott and I have borrowed money from banks, and family too many times to remember. At one point early in my illness, Scott lost his job, and with all the medical bills we had to file bankruptcy. We’ve survived so much as a family, and grown stronger because of it.
The kids were 3 and 7 when I got my first diagnosis of Renal/Bladder cancer, and thanks to an amazing medical team I was still able to volunteer at their schools, and continue to be active and involved in their lives. They have kept me going when all I wanted to do was curl up in a corner and quite literally die. My motto has always been “get up, suit up, and show up!” Knowing that my kids will learn so much about how to deal with life’s blows by watching me, I refuse to teach them to give up when life becomes too difficult, no matter how badly I may want to.
After ten plus years of dealing with one diagnosis after another, and complications caused by the very treatment that’s kept me alive, I am exhausted, Emotionally, and physically. These are hurdles that I can jump, but at this point we cannot afford to cover the medical costs in addition to our everyday bills.
The most uncomfortable, and frankly painful part of this for me isn’t the surgeries or treatments, it’s having to ask for help monetarily, but if I want to continue this fight I will need all the help I can get. I’m not ready to stop fighting. Every single day that I’m able to spend with my family is a victory.
Thank you so much for taking time from your own busy lives to read and share my story. It means everything!
Thank You! ♥️
This past decade has definitely brought some enormous challenges my way, but through all the diagnoses, treatments and surgeries the biggest challenge has been trying to cover the costs of my medical care while still trying to provide the basic necessities for my children.
This has become all but impossible, with my most recent complications we are having to pay 100% out of pocket for all medications and treatments.
The vast majority of my treatments have not been covered by our insurance, and on the rare occasion something is “covered” it’s only a small fraction of the overall expense.
The primary reason our out of pocket costs have been so high, is that the majority of the treatment options available to me have been “experimental” which means the insurance company deems them “not medically necessary” or my favorite, “not proven” however, my continued ability to see my kids grow up is all the “proof” I need to continue following any treatment protocols my team of doctors deems necessary.
In my journey I have lost my hair three times, both of my breasts, all of my own teeth (chemo and radiation destroy tooth enamel), one kidney, one third of my bladder half of my stomach, and my self confidence.
I have had more surgeries than I have fingers and toes, so I’ve stopped keeping track. Scott and I have borrowed money from banks, and family too many times to remember. At one point early in my illness, Scott lost his job, and with all the medical bills we had to file bankruptcy. We’ve survived so much as a family, and grown stronger because of it.
The kids were 3 and 7 when I got my first diagnosis of Renal/Bladder cancer, and thanks to an amazing medical team I was still able to volunteer at their schools, and continue to be active and involved in their lives. They have kept me going when all I wanted to do was curl up in a corner and quite literally die. My motto has always been “get up, suit up, and show up!” Knowing that my kids will learn so much about how to deal with life’s blows by watching me, I refuse to teach them to give up when life becomes too difficult, no matter how badly I may want to.
After ten plus years of dealing with one diagnosis after another, and complications caused by the very treatment that’s kept me alive, I am exhausted, Emotionally, and physically. These are hurdles that I can jump, but at this point we cannot afford to cover the medical costs in addition to our everyday bills.
The most uncomfortable, and frankly painful part of this for me isn’t the surgeries or treatments, it’s having to ask for help monetarily, but if I want to continue this fight I will need all the help I can get. I’m not ready to stop fighting. Every single day that I’m able to spend with my family is a victory.
Thank you so much for taking time from your own busy lives to read and share my story. It means everything!
Organizer
Susan Elizabeth Goldsmith
Organizer
Henderson, NV
