Help Save My Mom

Dear World, 

My mom is the love of my life. She is my hero. She raised me as a single-mom, and has spent her entire life giving to others, but now we need your help.

Two years ago my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer, stage 4A. After surgery and chemo, she was on the mend. The doctors bills were overwhelming, despite insurance—after all was said and done she paid (and is still paying) $19,182.81 out of pocket. 
This is my mom right before she went into surgery two years ago. It was an emotional time, but she still managed to look beautiful, and have a smile on her face. See why she's my hero?

A few weeks ago, during a routine colonoscopy, they found another cancerous tumor. This time the surgery will be more invasive, she will go through both radiation and chemo, and we suspect the road will be a bit more bumpy—but we will weather the storm. 

My mom has been an art teacher in Oklahoma for 25 years. She has been pivitol in the lives of over 6,000 12-18 year olds. In January she turns 64 and plans to retire in May 2015. As her only daughter, I am engaged to be married in October of next year. We have some wonderful things to look forward to, but we have to make it through this again. 

One of the most stressful things for my mom the last time we endured this, was the financial strain. Her entire life she has worked hard for everything she has. We all know too well how devasting medical bills can be despite insurance "coverage." There were multiple times that, because of the cost, my mom cut corners with treatment and offered services. 

Anyone who has had a sick parent knows how hard it is. Being an only child, it's that much more lonely—but I am in awe of the support of my mom's neighbors, family, co-workers, lifelong friends, and my own wonderful support from friends and family. 

Please consider helping during this hard, yet hopeful, time in our lives.  And if you have nothing to spare, we completely understand—just sharing this fundraiser on your social networks, or email will be a tremendous help. Offering your own survivor story, prayers, well-wishes, and love is also greatly appreciated.

I want my children to know the great love that my mother has shown me. I want her to be a grandmother. A great grandmother. A retiree. A painter. An esteemed artist with gallery shows in NYC. Her golden years should be just that...gold.

Just to give you a sense of what your donation will support—based on her last treatment plan, some of her out of pocket payments were:

$34.60 — infusion pump used for chemo sessions
$1,060.15 — copays for oncologist doctor visits
$315 — one anesthesiologist copay
$10,958.98 — tumor surgery, chemo port installation, chemo port removal
$750 — one PET scan (x3)
$94.11 — diagnostic lab work
$127.17 — pathologist lab work
$750 — CAT/CT scan (x2)
$417.02 — endoscopy procedure
$1421.26 — surgeon payment

Please take care of yourselves. 

Yours gratefully, 

Cassandra Ketrick
A daughter with the greatest mother