Help For Deanna

I have helped create this site to help a family who I have known for many years.  I am a CPA in the Washington Township area and met Joe DiMento for the first time in my office.  He came off as one of the most happy and sweetest people you could ever meet.  He was always smiling and lit up every time he mentioned his wife, Deanna, and his son, Joe.  Being his new accountant, I asked him a number of questions regarding his financial and personal matters.  I was completely stunned after he nonchalantly explained his family's story.  I would never have had any idea that he and his family had been through so much misfortune.  Life has not been easy for the DiMento family.  Joe's wife, Deanna DiMento has been suffering from seizures since 1995 when the tumor was first discovered.  She was forced to go on permanent disability from work back in 1999.  Her husband, Joe, works in the advertising/marketing industry.  He made the choice to leave his regular job and start his own business so he could work out of his house to be with Deanna 24/7.  Deanna suffers over 60 seizures annually, 71 in 2011, and the couple days following a seizure, she is so weak.  Joe cannot leave the house during those days.  So growing his business has been a struggle.  He's been fortunate enough to make a modest income, but it has never been enough to cover all the household bills in addition to the tremendous medical bills.  Although Deanna is covered under MediCare, their co-pays are still very high, while their income has been limited.  Joe has been doing his best to keep above water all these years.  He is a very proud person and truly never asked for help.  Well, 2010 became a turning point in Deanna's life.  The tumor on her brain that was causing the seizures turned malignant.  The tumor was Stage 3 and she underwent 6 weeks of daily radiation.  Sadly, it continued to grow.  She was diagnosed with with an end of stage 3, start of stage 4, malignant brain tumor April of 2012.  Since then, she has been through a tremendous amount of treatment.  Starting in May she did Oral Chemotherapy at home followed by Chemo Infusion at Jefferson Hospital in June.  The tumor continued to grow through the treatment so she then went through daily radiation in August and even agreed to participate in a trial drug this summer to make radiation therapy more effective.  By participating in this trial, she's actually helping other cancer patients down the road determine if the drug can help slow down growth in malignant brain tumors. Do you see the courage it took to take a drug, that's still in a trial phase, praying it helps knowing there's so much uncertainty, side effects, etc?  That's the kind of person Deanna is. Did it without complaining one bit- smiling every time she see's you.  In September she resumed infusion Chemotherapy which is what she does every other week indefinitely.  Deanna has had 50 seizures year to date, countless MRI's, doctor visits, labs, etc.  She goes to Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center for treatment, and when she's not in treatment, she's doing speech and physical therapy at home three times a week.  The tumor is inoperable as it is sitting on the speech and mobility area of her brain.  This is causing her to have little strength on the right side of her body and very limited speech.  This has become a problem being that they live in a two-story home.  There are no bedrooms or a full bath on the first floor.  She is unable to walk up the steps, so she is forced to sleep downstairs in the living room on the couch.  Her dedicated husband, Joe, does not leave her side and he sleeps on the couch next to her.  He gives her sponge baths and makes her as comfortable as he can.  They researched getting a stair lift so she can get up and down the stairs, but medicare does not cover it.  It would cost $3,000 which they just do not have.  The medical bills are piling up, totaling about $20,000 THIS YEAR ALONE, plus past due from prior years.  They are struggling to make their mortgage each month and after numerous attempts and phone calls, the bank is not willing to help (yeh...that's a shocker).  Deanna CAN NOT be displaced out of her home in her condition.  We must help this family.  I cannot express how fond I am of this family.  Deanna has always remained incredibly positive through all her health issues and never, ever complains.  she has been dealt a terrible hand, but she never stopped playing and always keeps smiling.  They are a unique couple and I just want to give them some breathing room.  I don't want them to have to worry about money...they need to concentrate on getting Deanna better.  Please dig deep into your pockets and donate as much as you can to this family.  Heading into the Holiday season, this is a time to be thankful for what we have and for giving to others.  Please, spread the word...share it on your Facebook page...e-mail this link to everyone you know.  This family deserves a break more than anyone else I know.  If you'd like to send a get well card through the mail, you can send it to their home address; 14 Brae Court, Turnersville, NJ 08012.