Hannah's Medical Fund
Donation protected
(Update posted on top, see below for history...)
Update, 12/28/19
Happy Holidays to All!
Hannah and I are so overwhelmed at all your generosity over the past TWO years (!?!) during her time of medical and financial need--it is humbling and heartwearming to know there are so many folks out there who may know you only a little (or may be close), but are happy to share a little to someone in need. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Hannah continues to have adrenal insufficiency, which as a fundamental part of our everyday survival is disabling. Due to this and other factors she also faces severe depression/anxiety and a host of related, sometimes emerging additional conditions, like fissures--each leading to more treatments, causing more side effects. She is unable to work to sustain life, so has been able to get SNAP benefits (food stamps); however, recent changes to the program require non-disabled adults under 50 to work (or train for work) at least 20 hours/week before qualifying for the program. While by any reasonable person's judgement, Hannah would be considered disabled, she has not yet qualified for disability; the appeal process is long and arduous, perfect for those who would prefer poor people with health problems to give up on receiving the social insurance they have rights to access. Apparently, up to 3 million adults could lose their access to food as a result:
What the USDA's New Food Stamp Rule Will Do
Trump administration tightens work requirements for SNAP, which could cut hundreds of thousands from food stamps
Hannah is worried about her food security in the New Year, especially since she lost power a month or so ago and the contents of her freezer were destroyed. Also, while she has been able to access some hospital-based pharmacy and medical benefits, she still pays out of pocket for many prescriptions. While you may not be able to do so again, please consider another contribution, no matter the size--you can PM her for direct info or donate here. Purchasing food from Amazon is usually more costly option than going to a local grocery store, where you can get bargains, so your funds will be put to the best use, but we appreciate your help in any way that works best for you. If you prefer to send Hannah supplies, here is an Amazon list she updates (there are multiple lists actually, for different purposes see sidebar on left): Hannah's Wish Lists .
Update, 7/26/19
Greetings everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the summer weather and outdoor time. Hannah's health has continued to be a challenge for her adjusting and trying new medicines with variable side effects, seeing new professionals for physical therapy and continuing adrenal problems, and dealing with chronic illness and depression. Though she has gotten coverage for some of her medical expenses, including medicine, she still has some need for support to purchase items she needs for basic care and health monitoring, like her Amazon wish list (especially the blood pressure cuff--her first one broke, multivitamins, cleaning wipes, the foam rollers and other physical therapy supplies). If you can send her something or donate to help her purchase these items and other life needs, it would be great. If you supported us before but can afford to pitch in a little more now, it would be a great help--every little bit helps! Thanks so much!
An Update from Hannah, 5/9/18 (Posted on 6/7/18--almost a month later. Sorry for the delay, Hannah!) :
I received a call from my disability and medicaid social worker yesterday that says I have 70 days, well 66 now left to learn whether or not I am eligible for medicaid and have been approved. I live in North Carolina and have applied for NC Med Assist for help with medication costs, but have not heard back yet either if I am approved. Right now I still have not yet been seen by an endocrinologist as the cheapest one in my town costs $200 just for a consultation. When I was hospitalized for 3 weeks in november I was put on a variety of mental health medications to help with the depression and anxiety of having Addisons and a new diagnosis. I know my long term solution will come about sooner than I imagine, but it is the short term problem of being able to afford all of my medications that I need to avoid further crises (i've had 3) and avoid another trip to the hospital. Right now I take: gabapentin, zoloft, geodon, hydrocortisone, fludrocortisone, robaxin, buspirone, trazodone and a few others I can't remember off hand. I need help with the out of pocket costs for them as well as hopefully having enough to pay for the endocrinologist co
nsultation. Please accept my gratitude to anyone who has helped anonymously or by name. I wouldn't be here without your support.
I also made up an Amazon Wish List for things that aren't medication (and this is Whitney for Hannah--Creative Haven or other Adult Coloring Books are an inexpensive addition each to an Amazon order and make for nice surpirises and a distraction!)
Initial appeal (late November 2017):
Sudden (or even not so sudden) health scares debilitate us, feeling helpless and alone. However, strength in numbers can defeat our obstacles. Hannah needs $200 for prescriptions and $125 for doctor copays over the next few months, and could use $475 total net to subsidize meds/care supplies a little longer. GoFundMe charges a 5% fee for their serv
ices, so $16-25 of our campaign covers this. ***Note that the original goal here was $325 total. Being a GoFundMe campaign newbie, I forgot to add the fees to the campaign goal.
Update 12/4: Hannah now has more information, and needs some help with funding medical tests, so I've raised the goal again to $700. Editing the Main "Story" in an effort to be transparent.
Even if you can only donate $5 to Hannah, if five people do that she can pay for one or two prescriptions and hopefully not be going in and out of the hospital while she figures out a more stable plan for long term care. Thanks and Love to all of you!
Update 4/6/18: Hannah is doing better, but still has trouble covering all her medical expenses; have raised the goal a few times at her request for things like medical supplies (a blood pressure monitor, for example), doctor and prescription co-pays, and other expenses like additional hospitalizations. Thanks!
Update, 12/28/19
Happy Holidays to All!
Hannah and I are so overwhelmed at all your generosity over the past TWO years (!?!) during her time of medical and financial need--it is humbling and heartwearming to know there are so many folks out there who may know you only a little (or may be close), but are happy to share a little to someone in need. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Hannah continues to have adrenal insufficiency, which as a fundamental part of our everyday survival is disabling. Due to this and other factors she also faces severe depression/anxiety and a host of related, sometimes emerging additional conditions, like fissures--each leading to more treatments, causing more side effects. She is unable to work to sustain life, so has been able to get SNAP benefits (food stamps); however, recent changes to the program require non-disabled adults under 50 to work (or train for work) at least 20 hours/week before qualifying for the program. While by any reasonable person's judgement, Hannah would be considered disabled, she has not yet qualified for disability; the appeal process is long and arduous, perfect for those who would prefer poor people with health problems to give up on receiving the social insurance they have rights to access. Apparently, up to 3 million adults could lose their access to food as a result:
What the USDA's New Food Stamp Rule Will Do
Trump administration tightens work requirements for SNAP, which could cut hundreds of thousands from food stamps
Hannah is worried about her food security in the New Year, especially since she lost power a month or so ago and the contents of her freezer were destroyed. Also, while she has been able to access some hospital-based pharmacy and medical benefits, she still pays out of pocket for many prescriptions. While you may not be able to do so again, please consider another contribution, no matter the size--you can PM her for direct info or donate here. Purchasing food from Amazon is usually more costly option than going to a local grocery store, where you can get bargains, so your funds will be put to the best use, but we appreciate your help in any way that works best for you. If you prefer to send Hannah supplies, here is an Amazon list she updates (there are multiple lists actually, for different purposes see sidebar on left): Hannah's Wish Lists .
Update, 7/26/19
Greetings everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the summer weather and outdoor time. Hannah's health has continued to be a challenge for her adjusting and trying new medicines with variable side effects, seeing new professionals for physical therapy and continuing adrenal problems, and dealing with chronic illness and depression. Though she has gotten coverage for some of her medical expenses, including medicine, she still has some need for support to purchase items she needs for basic care and health monitoring, like her Amazon wish list (especially the blood pressure cuff--her first one broke, multivitamins, cleaning wipes, the foam rollers and other physical therapy supplies). If you can send her something or donate to help her purchase these items and other life needs, it would be great. If you supported us before but can afford to pitch in a little more now, it would be a great help--every little bit helps! Thanks so much!
An Update from Hannah, 5/9/18 (Posted on 6/7/18--almost a month later. Sorry for the delay, Hannah!) :
I received a call from my disability and medicaid social worker yesterday that says I have 70 days, well 66 now left to learn whether or not I am eligible for medicaid and have been approved. I live in North Carolina and have applied for NC Med Assist for help with medication costs, but have not heard back yet either if I am approved. Right now I still have not yet been seen by an endocrinologist as the cheapest one in my town costs $200 just for a consultation. When I was hospitalized for 3 weeks in november I was put on a variety of mental health medications to help with the depression and anxiety of having Addisons and a new diagnosis. I know my long term solution will come about sooner than I imagine, but it is the short term problem of being able to afford all of my medications that I need to avoid further crises (i've had 3) and avoid another trip to the hospital. Right now I take: gabapentin, zoloft, geodon, hydrocortisone, fludrocortisone, robaxin, buspirone, trazodone and a few others I can't remember off hand. I need help with the out of pocket costs for them as well as hopefully having enough to pay for the endocrinologist co
nsultation. Please accept my gratitude to anyone who has helped anonymously or by name. I wouldn't be here without your support.
I also made up an Amazon Wish List for things that aren't medication (and this is Whitney for Hannah--Creative Haven or other Adult Coloring Books are an inexpensive addition each to an Amazon order and make for nice surpirises and a distraction!)
Initial appeal (late November 2017):
Sudden (or even not so sudden) health scares debilitate us, feeling helpless and alone. However, strength in numbers can defeat our obstacles. Hannah needs $200 for prescriptions and $125 for doctor copays over the next few months, and could use $475 total net to subsidize meds/care supplies a little longer. GoFundMe charges a 5% fee for their serv
ices, so $16-25 of our campaign covers this. ***Note that the original goal here was $325 total. Being a GoFundMe campaign newbie, I forgot to add the fees to the campaign goal.
Update 12/4: Hannah now has more information, and needs some help with funding medical tests, so I've raised the goal again to $700. Editing the Main "Story" in an effort to be transparent.
Even if you can only donate $5 to Hannah, if five people do that she can pay for one or two prescriptions and hopefully not be going in and out of the hospital while she figures out a more stable plan for long term care. Thanks and Love to all of you!
Update 4/6/18: Hannah is doing better, but still has trouble covering all her medical expenses; have raised the goal a few times at her request for things like medical supplies (a blood pressure monitor, for example), doctor and prescription co-pays, and other expenses like additional hospitalizations. Thanks!
Organizer and beneficiary
Whitney Novak
Organizer
Greensboro, NC
Hannah Elliott
Beneficiary
