Donna Bryant's Memorial Service
Donation protected
Donna Bryant
August 1956 "“ August 2013
Loving sister, mother and grandmother
Our mother was an amazing, loving woman with an infectious smile. On August 20th she lost her battle with liver disease, fighting it until her very last breath.
Our mother had worked for Farmers Insurance in various capacities, starting in Texas and continuing when she moved us to California. She had just spent her life savings to open her own agency when the symptoms of her disease started. Unable to make it as her own agent, she continued working until she was physically unable, with doctor and hospital visits becoming more frequent. It was a lesson in life for all of us. Unable to qualify for medical coverage due to a preexisting condition, unable to work in order to have health coverage, too much in assets to qualify for SSI, not enough assets to cover medical costs, we struggled to cover medical expenses while eliminating and depleting anything that may help with final costs later on. My sister and I do not have the money to cover the costs of her memorial service or the remaining bills from the nursing facility in which she was living. We would like to be able to give her the memorial she deserves for all the sacrifices she made for us as a single mother.
Things we learned along the way: 1) Her liver disease was caused by Hepatitis C, a disease most people know little about, but one that affects a significant number of Baby Boomers. (If you were born between 1945 and 1965 get a screening done. Baby Boomers make up ¾ of the cases.) 2) At any given time there are 100,000 people on the liver transplant list, but only about 12,000 transplants done each year. By the time our mom qualified for medical help, it was too late to get any. 3) This is not a talked about disease. There are no celebrity endorsements. There are no walks or fund raising efforts; many people have it and show no signs or symptoms. 4) You are never prepared for something like this. 5) You have no idea how much it costs to keep someone comfortable while they are still living. 6) You do not expect the incurred costs when they pass.
In the end, our mom's liver had cirrhosis, her kidney's were shutting down, and days before she passed she fell and broke her hip. Watching this strong woman we love and admire be reduced to such a frail person was heartbreaking.
We thank Hospice for the kind workers they provided to help ease the pain for our mom. We thank our friends and her friends for the love, support and kind words they have shared with us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that are in a similar position to ours.
Donna is survived by her brother, two sisters, her two daughters and one heart broken granddaughter. A donation of any size will help. Thank you!
Loving sister, mother and grandmother
Our mother was an amazing, loving woman with an infectious smile. On August 20th she lost her battle with liver disease, fighting it until her very last breath.
Our mother had worked for Farmers Insurance in various capacities, starting in Texas and continuing when she moved us to California. She had just spent her life savings to open her own agency when the symptoms of her disease started. Unable to make it as her own agent, she continued working until she was physically unable, with doctor and hospital visits becoming more frequent. It was a lesson in life for all of us. Unable to qualify for medical coverage due to a preexisting condition, unable to work in order to have health coverage, too much in assets to qualify for SSI, not enough assets to cover medical costs, we struggled to cover medical expenses while eliminating and depleting anything that may help with final costs later on. My sister and I do not have the money to cover the costs of her memorial service or the remaining bills from the nursing facility in which she was living. We would like to be able to give her the memorial she deserves for all the sacrifices she made for us as a single mother.
Things we learned along the way: 1) Her liver disease was caused by Hepatitis C, a disease most people know little about, but one that affects a significant number of Baby Boomers. (If you were born between 1945 and 1965 get a screening done. Baby Boomers make up ¾ of the cases.) 2) At any given time there are 100,000 people on the liver transplant list, but only about 12,000 transplants done each year. By the time our mom qualified for medical help, it was too late to get any. 3) This is not a talked about disease. There are no celebrity endorsements. There are no walks or fund raising efforts; many people have it and show no signs or symptoms. 4) You are never prepared for something like this. 5) You have no idea how much it costs to keep someone comfortable while they are still living. 6) You do not expect the incurred costs when they pass.
In the end, our mom's liver had cirrhosis, her kidney's were shutting down, and days before she passed she fell and broke her hip. Watching this strong woman we love and admire be reduced to such a frail person was heartbreaking.
We thank Hospice for the kind workers they provided to help ease the pain for our mom. We thank our friends and her friends for the love, support and kind words they have shared with us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that are in a similar position to ours.
Donna is survived by her brother, two sisters, her two daughters and one heart broken granddaughter. A donation of any size will help. Thank you!
Organizer
Hillary Bryant
Organizer
