Rebecca Crockett Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Well, the time has come to let everyone know how the family is doing how Rebecca's health and treatment are going and unfortunately, it is now necessary to ask for assistance. The family has basically gotten over the initial shock from Rebecca's cancer diagnosis and we are all continuing to live life as normal as is possible under the circumstances. However, it is life changing and it has affected each of us in a profound and considerable way. We all have good and bad days, we all cry alone and together and none of us take the little
things for granted like before. Life isn't as carefree as before, we have all asked why a thousand times but have realized that it doesn't really matter. The more important question is how will we respond to what has been handed to us. While we can't say we have gratitude for this challenge, it has certainly helped us love and appreciate each other more and to recognize how quickly everything can change.
As for Rebecca's story. Back in September 2014, she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor behind her stomach that was intimately involved with a major artery, rendering it inoperable. We received this diagnosis in Kansas City at Research hospital from one of the best oncologists in the area. However, after three biopsies they were only able to determine the tumor was slow growing but they were not able to determine what type of cancer she had. Therefore, they were not able to prescribe a treatment that was known to work. While her oncologist did come up with an experimental treatment plan they also recommended getting a second opinion at Mayo Clinic. We were told that the clinic would not take us if they didn't accept our insurance. So after getting an appointment and asking if they accepted our insurance (to which they said yes) we headed up to the clinic for a second opinion. Ultimately, Mayo clinic was not able to determine the type of cancer either but offered a different treatment. It was shortly after that visit that we found out that Mayo Clinic was an out of network provider. Since we had no experience with using our insurance Rebecca immediately got on the phone with the insurance company and tried to figure this out. After hours of asking questions, and trying to figure out what it would cost us to go to Mayo we were told it would just cost our out of pocket maximum of $7500.00 for 2014, and $7500 for 2015 since treatment would take place over two calendar years. We then spent weeks fasting and praying about where to go. We felt good about going to Mayo and moved up to Minnesota for 2 months while Rebecca endured daily radiation and chemotherapy along with 12-14 doctor appointments per week. It became our life for that few months.
Right before Rebecca's treatment finished we started to receive the bills for treatment. We were shocked that it didn't seem like anything was being covered by the insurance. We talked to the social workers at Mayo thinking we could apply to organizations like American Cancer Society to help with the out of pocket maximums. We also contacted Mayo Clinic about getting some of the cost written off. Unfortunately almost all of the organizations that offer money to cancer patients offer it to people with specific cancers like breast, liver, lymphoma etc. Since she has an unknown cancer we could not apply to any of them. And Mayo wanted us to appeal to our insurance before we applied to receive charity from them. When all was said and done, we owed Mayo Clinic $125,000.00 and our insurance would only pay $12,000.00 of the bill. We appealed it again and again to no avail. I believe that if insurance companies had souls there would be a special little place for them in hell. Sorry, I digress.
Results of the treatment were made known to us in April 2015 that the tumor appeared to be dead. We celebrated the news. However, Rebecca’s pain continued, likely from the constriction of the artery from the existing tumor, the damage from radiation and the pain medications she was on. It was a vicious cycle. We sought to get back to normalcy with Rebecca going back to nursing school albeit on a heavy does of narcotics to control the pain and doing things we had always done. It seemed bearable until August of 2015 when our life was beckoned to the emergency room day after day with days in the hospital from acute pain. Rebecca again dropped out of nursing school for the 2nd time in October and they installed a pain pump that delivers a pain medication continuously into her spine. Unfortunately, it was a drug she was allergic to. After another week in the hospital and the drug changed to dilaudid, she finally had some relief for a time. Life seemed great in November and December until a routine CT scan picked up metastatic lesions in her liver. These were biopsied and found to be the same unknown cancer. The doctor told us in January that unless Rebecca treated she would have 6 months to a year to live. Even if she treated, he couldn't say for sure if it would work. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of an unknown origin.
This time around her doctors still didn't know how to treat it, however they realized this cancer is not slow but fast growing. Once again they came up with an experimental treatment and we started again. This time in Kansas City. Again we had to haggle with the insurance companies to get all the treatments approved waiting almost 3 months to start the treatment of the Y-90 radiation, a treatment documented to stop the growth of the tumors. In the 3 months of dispute over the treatment, her liver tumors all doubled and tripled in size and also a few more new ones popped up. It is infuriating that insurance companies can go against the advice and prescription of doctors. If they could have acted in haste there might have been less spreading of the cancer. Rebecca just finished her last dose of the Y-90 radiation and continues to get IV immunotherapy and vitamin c therapy every two weeks. We will not know the results of these treatments for sometime. We are also seeking some alternative treatments at this time.
We received a settlement from Mayo Clinic a few months ago for $40,000.00 and were asked to pay $850.00/month. This was impossible so Rebecca called to explain that it needed to be less. They have sent it to collections even though we have been paying what we can. I have spent 4 months total in the hospital with Rebecca and we took a huge hit in income so anything extra is hard. And we are of course meeting our out of pocket maximum every year along with all the extra insurance costs (we buy an expensive plan since we use it now all the time) and travel costs for Rebecca to go to the doctor so often. So now we are currently being pursued by collections for a sum of about $40,0000. I think we always thought that if they got very aggressive about collecting from us we could claim "medical bankruptcy". However, after talking to a lawyer we have discovered that it’s not medical bankruptcy, its just a chapter 7 or 13. Missouri state laws are very stingy and we would be ruined by a bankruptcy. While asking for help was not even an option a few months ago, it is now necessary for us to be able to support our family and not have wages garnished or lose our home. We are asking that you please continue to pray for our miracle and please help in any way you can. Any amount helps immensely. We thank you so much for all you do!
things for granted like before. Life isn't as carefree as before, we have all asked why a thousand times but have realized that it doesn't really matter. The more important question is how will we respond to what has been handed to us. While we can't say we have gratitude for this challenge, it has certainly helped us love and appreciate each other more and to recognize how quickly everything can change.
As for Rebecca's story. Back in September 2014, she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor behind her stomach that was intimately involved with a major artery, rendering it inoperable. We received this diagnosis in Kansas City at Research hospital from one of the best oncologists in the area. However, after three biopsies they were only able to determine the tumor was slow growing but they were not able to determine what type of cancer she had. Therefore, they were not able to prescribe a treatment that was known to work. While her oncologist did come up with an experimental treatment plan they also recommended getting a second opinion at Mayo Clinic. We were told that the clinic would not take us if they didn't accept our insurance. So after getting an appointment and asking if they accepted our insurance (to which they said yes) we headed up to the clinic for a second opinion. Ultimately, Mayo clinic was not able to determine the type of cancer either but offered a different treatment. It was shortly after that visit that we found out that Mayo Clinic was an out of network provider. Since we had no experience with using our insurance Rebecca immediately got on the phone with the insurance company and tried to figure this out. After hours of asking questions, and trying to figure out what it would cost us to go to Mayo we were told it would just cost our out of pocket maximum of $7500.00 for 2014, and $7500 for 2015 since treatment would take place over two calendar years. We then spent weeks fasting and praying about where to go. We felt good about going to Mayo and moved up to Minnesota for 2 months while Rebecca endured daily radiation and chemotherapy along with 12-14 doctor appointments per week. It became our life for that few months.
Right before Rebecca's treatment finished we started to receive the bills for treatment. We were shocked that it didn't seem like anything was being covered by the insurance. We talked to the social workers at Mayo thinking we could apply to organizations like American Cancer Society to help with the out of pocket maximums. We also contacted Mayo Clinic about getting some of the cost written off. Unfortunately almost all of the organizations that offer money to cancer patients offer it to people with specific cancers like breast, liver, lymphoma etc. Since she has an unknown cancer we could not apply to any of them. And Mayo wanted us to appeal to our insurance before we applied to receive charity from them. When all was said and done, we owed Mayo Clinic $125,000.00 and our insurance would only pay $12,000.00 of the bill. We appealed it again and again to no avail. I believe that if insurance companies had souls there would be a special little place for them in hell. Sorry, I digress.
Results of the treatment were made known to us in April 2015 that the tumor appeared to be dead. We celebrated the news. However, Rebecca’s pain continued, likely from the constriction of the artery from the existing tumor, the damage from radiation and the pain medications she was on. It was a vicious cycle. We sought to get back to normalcy with Rebecca going back to nursing school albeit on a heavy does of narcotics to control the pain and doing things we had always done. It seemed bearable until August of 2015 when our life was beckoned to the emergency room day after day with days in the hospital from acute pain. Rebecca again dropped out of nursing school for the 2nd time in October and they installed a pain pump that delivers a pain medication continuously into her spine. Unfortunately, it was a drug she was allergic to. After another week in the hospital and the drug changed to dilaudid, she finally had some relief for a time. Life seemed great in November and December until a routine CT scan picked up metastatic lesions in her liver. These were biopsied and found to be the same unknown cancer. The doctor told us in January that unless Rebecca treated she would have 6 months to a year to live. Even if she treated, he couldn't say for sure if it would work. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of an unknown origin.
This time around her doctors still didn't know how to treat it, however they realized this cancer is not slow but fast growing. Once again they came up with an experimental treatment and we started again. This time in Kansas City. Again we had to haggle with the insurance companies to get all the treatments approved waiting almost 3 months to start the treatment of the Y-90 radiation, a treatment documented to stop the growth of the tumors. In the 3 months of dispute over the treatment, her liver tumors all doubled and tripled in size and also a few more new ones popped up. It is infuriating that insurance companies can go against the advice and prescription of doctors. If they could have acted in haste there might have been less spreading of the cancer. Rebecca just finished her last dose of the Y-90 radiation and continues to get IV immunotherapy and vitamin c therapy every two weeks. We will not know the results of these treatments for sometime. We are also seeking some alternative treatments at this time.
We received a settlement from Mayo Clinic a few months ago for $40,000.00 and were asked to pay $850.00/month. This was impossible so Rebecca called to explain that it needed to be less. They have sent it to collections even though we have been paying what we can. I have spent 4 months total in the hospital with Rebecca and we took a huge hit in income so anything extra is hard. And we are of course meeting our out of pocket maximum every year along with all the extra insurance costs (we buy an expensive plan since we use it now all the time) and travel costs for Rebecca to go to the doctor so often. So now we are currently being pursued by collections for a sum of about $40,0000. I think we always thought that if they got very aggressive about collecting from us we could claim "medical bankruptcy". However, after talking to a lawyer we have discovered that it’s not medical bankruptcy, its just a chapter 7 or 13. Missouri state laws are very stingy and we would be ruined by a bankruptcy. While asking for help was not even an option a few months ago, it is now necessary for us to be able to support our family and not have wages garnished or lose our home. We are asking that you please continue to pray for our miracle and please help in any way you can. Any amount helps immensely. We thank you so much for all you do!
Organizer
Jesse Crockett
Organizer
Cameron, MO