Deb Sprague Family Medical Emergency

This is the first -- and, I hope, last -- update in the long-running series of medical setbacks suffered by my mother and the financial crisis they’ve created.

Over the last couple of years, my mom, who some of you know well, has had a number of physical traumas, including several serious falls that required hospitalizations.

 We started the Medicaid process, which dragged on, creating a hospital and home health aide debt of over $50,000 that I had to co-sign for to ensure she got and kept the care. An earlier fundraiser helped me get Mama Grace into a nursing home, but the Medicaid approval process took six months, a period in which i was billed out of pocket pending appeal. My final appeal over that bill has been denied and I need to raise funds for it by the end of November.

I am facing one hard deadline for a "balloon" payment to her caregivers and a second one to keep my childhood home -- where she lived until entering the nursing home-- from going into  foreclosure.

 I’ve maxed out credit cards, taken two large loans, and sold off possessions to chip away at the debt -- and  I’ve been told that I can't withdraw the small amount that remains in my 401K without quitting my job. That, clearly, is not an option.

I know things are hard for a lot of people right now, and we both thank anyone who’s able to help or simply offer emotional support.

Much love,
Deb