Hi, my name is Enya, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my mom, Deirdre, who is currently facing an unimaginable challenge. Not long ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After consultations with her medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Proton Therapy was recommended as the most effective and least harmful treatment option, given the tumor’s location in close proximity to her heart, and her specific medical history.

Proton Therapy is a cutting-edge radiation treatment that precisely targets cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue and vital organs, significantly reducing long-term side effects.

The Denial

My mom is currently employed by the Scarsdale School District and insured through its self-funded health plan, administered by UMR (UnitedHealthcare). Despite the strong recommendations from her physicians at MSK, and well-established clinical benefits, the plan has denied coverage for this life saving treatment. Frustratingly, courts have already ruled this treatment medically necessary in similar cases, recognizing its ability to protect vital organs and improve long-term outcomes.

This has left Mom in an impossible position: either undergo a less precise form of radiation that would expose her heart to dangerously high levels of radiation, increasing the risk of long-term damage, or bear the overwhelming, out-of-pocket cost of Proton Therapy on her own.

The Urgent Need

Proton Therapy can cost over $150,000 out-of-pocket, a substantial expense. While we are actively pursuing all legal and administrative options, my mom can’t afford to wait any longer to begin treatment. We are raising funds now to:

My mom has always been the kind of person who shows up for others, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and coach, a fierce advocate, and someone who gives with her whole heart. Now, she needs our support more than ever.

This is about more than one patient, it’s about all of us. We must come together to stop health insurance companies from interfering in medical decisions and denying access to life-saving care. Doctors, not insurers, should determine the best treatment for patients.

No donation is too small. If you're unable to give, please consider sharing this campaign with your network. Every bit of help brings us closer to giving Mom the chance she deserves to heal, to thrive, and to live a long and full life.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with her.

With gratitude,

Enya Doherty