Help Claudia O'Brien Fight Ovarian Cancer

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to give everyone an update on Claudia's progress. Through the efforts of Olivia (daughter), Carla (sister), and myself, her partner, we provided hospice care at home. But we needed to prepare for what providing hospice care for a loved one entailed. There needed to be a playbook or roadmap! For various reasons, we had to transition to residence-based hospice care provided by the Fisher Home. Medicare or Insurance does not cover residence-based hospice care (for us). Therefore, the costs are out-of-pocket. And this is the primary need for Phase 2 of the Gofundme Campaign for Claudia. If you have already donated to the "cause", Thank you so much!!!. If you can contribute, we could use your help with the hospice care cost and the related cost of final services.

Original Post:

I'm writing to talk to you about my mom, Claudia Moore O'Brien, aka Mama Bear. Everyone who meets my mom is blown away by her quick wit, sharp intelligence, beautiful smile, contagious laugh, huge heart, and superhuman strength. I'm fortunate enough to call her the best mom in the world and my very best friend.

She was recently diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer and is in the fight of a lifetime.

Life never came easy to Mom; she got polio in 1957 in a world not quite ready to embrace anyone with a body that looks and works a little bit differently than everyone else's. My grandparents rejected doctors' suggestions to commit her to an assisted living facility permanently. Instead, my grandfather went around and installed railings throughout all of Wakefield, so my mom could walk through any door, both physically and metaphorically.

And it worked. In her 71 years, my mom has backpacked across Europe, raised me as a single mom, earned a master's degree, published a book, was an award-winning graphic designer, beat breast cancer, opened up an afterschool art program, and has been both an active participant and volunteer for countless adaptive sports and activities. What that list doesn't tell you is how much fun and how many laughs my mom, and I had while doing it all.

Although profound medical advances have occurred since her polio diagnosis, the healthcare system has gone in the opposite direction. It's astounding and appalling how much isn't covered by insurance. The list includes necessary medical procedures, medications, ambulance rides, and hotel rooms booked when she has to receive treatment at Mass General Hospital in Boston, which is 85 miles away. With every medical complication, and there have been many, there's an accompanying financial element.

Beating cancer is stressful enough, as so much is out of our control, but there is one huge way for you to help: DONATE.

My mom has led a life of helping others, but right now, she's the one who needs your help. Please help us help her.