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My name is Justin, and I have been one of AnnE's best friends since middle school. She's the gangly-armed, toe-headed Long Lake kid three houses down who invited me on adventures and became my inseparable partner in crime and mayhem since 1997. Through thick and thin, she's helped me through breakups, cross-country moves, mysteriously disappearing eyebrows, and more than a few hangovers and misplaced memories.
AnnE is having some battles. For the past four years, she has gone through the American medical system diligently to tackle her disease. As you can imagine, this can leave most people at best hopeless and without resolution. Fortunately, AnnE is not most people, and she has been cleared for surgery in May in Sacramento, California. She will undergo neurosurgery to repair congenital spinal defects, bone erosion, and a cerebrospinal fluid leak. While insurance coverage through her employer will likely cover the surgery, there will be many other items to consider afterward on her recovery path.
- Deductible and max out-of-pocket will need to be paid again
- Four years of diagnostics and failed procedures have exhausted her paid time off and sick leave at work
- There will be a 90-day unpaid waiting period for disability insurance
- She will need to pay higher COBRA insurance rates if unable to return to work when FMLA coverage runs out
- She will also need to pay uncovered expenses such as airfare, fuel, and travel expenses for herself and her caregivers
- Wound care equipment and mobility aids - this is a long process
- Everyday logistics, such as grocery and prepared food delivery
- Follow-up travel for post-surgery checkups
- Donations of PTO from employees that work at Kootenai Health
I'm creating this GoFundMe to provide a financial cushion for my friend. I have seen the medical system erode her savings and options over the last several years, and I want to help her, with her community of friends and loved ones, get back to normal after surgery.
The easiest way for people to help AnnE from a distance is with financial help, but there's always opportunities to help in a much more immediate and tangible way: with your time and presence.
She'll also need help with everyday tasks while recovering. If you have the ability to contribute your muscles and motor skills, that also would mean the world to her. Some day-to-day tasks that could use your direct help:
- Appointment transportation
- Pet care and assistance
- Household tasks
- Heavy lifting tasks
- Mail pickup
I want to be transparent with all of the money and assistance we will gather for AnnE. I will be keeping a separate Boeing Employees Credit Union savings account for donations, and if there is a surplus of donations after recovery, everyone will meet (and celebrate) to discuss how best to direct the funds.
If you would like to make a direct donation to AnnE or myself on her behalf, please reach out and I can provide a few different payment methods or her contact information to coordinate assistance.
AnnE has touched and shaped my life with her infinite energy, wisdom, and positive dynamism in so many ways that I wouldn't be the person I am today if I never met her. She has made immeasurable contributions to so many communities and individuals throughout the years, and I think we should help her get past and through this medical hurdle.
Organizer
