Deborah Hoku Burrows Medical Fundraiser

Aloha everyone. We’re raising funds for our dear friend and classmate, Deborah Hoku Burrows, who is currently in a home care facility in Kalihi, Hawaii. Before moving into that facility, she was in a care facility in Ewa, Hawaii.

Hoku has a rare blood disease that she was diagnosed with while in her 30s and has been under the care of the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Maryland since being diagnosed with the blood disease. Hoku’s mind is still sharp but she is not able to walk or crawl as she has done for many years; she is confined to a bed and needs 24/7 care.

Medicare does not pay for long term care but Medicaid Long Term Services will pay to support individuals who need ongoing care due to age, physical disability, and chronic illness. It took a couple months for the Medicaid Long Term care to be approved and her family has to pay the $5,770 out of pocket each month for her care in the Ewa facility plus $560 a month for a case manager.

We are raising funds to cover the 2 months of home care and case manager fees so her family is not burdened with the cost. They will continue to pay the $560 as long as Hoku is in the care facility. At this time, we are trying to raise $20,000 for the back payments and case management fees for the next year. Any funds not used will be kept in a Kamehameha Schools - Class of 1971 account to be used for other classmates who may also need financial help with medical expenses.

I’ve known Hoku (who I call Debbie) since we were 12 years old. She would hate that we are raising money for her care; however, she is part of our ohana and we will do whatever we can to help ease the financial burden to her and her ohana. Please kokua by donating whatever you can to help us raise money for her care.

Aloha Pumehana,

Ashlyn Moani Navarro Algee