Help Stacy with Medical Expenses

Brooke Horn is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

TW: Abuse, Needles, Cancer, Hospitals

TLDR; My mother, Stacy, is disabled and has fled an abusive situation, leaving her financially vulnerable. She can't afford medical expenses associated with her disabilities without support. Full story below.

Hi, my name is Brooke Horn, and I am reaching out on behalf of my mother, Stacy. My goal is to provide my mother with a lifeline to safety and to help rebuild her life with dignity and peace. However, we can’t achieve this goal without the generous support of charitable individuals like you who understand the importance of helping those in need. This description is divided into sections: an Abstract, Medical Specifics, and a Donation/Cost Breakdown.

ABSTRACT

Stacy is 51 years old and chronically ill. However, after introspection, she made the difficult, scary, but necessary decision to flee a bad situation.

As stated previously, Stacy is chronically ill. She has multiple federally recognized disabilities including Type 1 diabetes, skin cancer, PTSD, and low vision (all of which will be discussed later for clarity). She also suffers from Gastroparesis, a debilitating disease that prevents the normal movement of the stomach muscles that help digest and move food to the intestines. This causes malnutrition, dehydration, intense pain and bloating, nausea, vomiting, and explosive diarrhea. She also can no longer legally drive because of her vision loss caused by inflammation which cut off blood flow to the optic nerve.

She is currently on co-insurance, for now. The $7500 deductible is already paid; however, she has extensive out-of-pocket expenses (such as OTC medications, medical supplies and equipment, and specialized food needs) that she cannot afford without assistance (and I don't make nearly enough money to cover it).

Here are a few ways your contribution can make an immediate impact:

Medical Support: My mother requires specialized medical care to address her disabilities and regain her physical and emotional well-being. Your support will help cover the costs of out-of-pocket expenses, medical emergencies, gap insurance expenses, and specialized food needs. In the worst-case scenario that her insurance is revoked, your contributions will ensure continued care while she regains coverage.
Financial Independence: By extending financial assistance, you can help Stacy become self-sufficient. This could include covering basic living expenses, vocational training, job placement support, and public transportation (since she cannot drive).
Emotional Support and Counseling: Recovering from the trauma of the situation shes fled requires professional counseling and emotional support. Your contribution will enable my mother to access the necessary resources to heal and regain her self-esteem.

MEDICAL SPECIFICS

All the following have been diagnosed with medical professionals and there are medical records to back up the claims.

T1 Diabetes- diagnosed 40+ years ago

~Not only can Stacy not produce her own insulin, but she is allergic to artificial insulin, so she requires specialized equipment and near-constant antihistamines to prevent her from going into anaphylaxis.

~Diabetes management requires a specialized diet to combat blood sugar flux.

Kidney Disease- diagnosed over 20 years ago

~Stacy went into full renal failure in Spring 2009 and was put on dialysis, a constant and painful procedure. In 2009, peritoneal dialysis cost 20k-40k a year. She received a kidney transplant in August 2009 and has worked hard to keep the organ healthy.

~Currently, her creatinine level (a chemical that determines renal health) is at a level that exceeds where it was when she fell into renal failure in ’09. This indicates that she may soon be back on dialysis. Currently, peritoneal dialysis costs $36k a year.

~She is currently on life-long immunosuppressants which make going out in public difficult and dangerous, especially during the time of COVID-19. She doesn’t recover from illnesses as quickly as non-immunosuppressed individuals. Catching a common cold can put her in the hospital.

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)- diagnosed in 2018

~Caused by traumatic experiences. Stacy was diagnosed and suffers constantly from depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Partial blindness/low vision- diagnosed in Nov 2018

~Her vision deteriorated to the point where her physician had her driving license revoked. She can no longer legally drive.

Gastroparesis-diagnosed Feb 2023, though she suffered through it for 3 months prior

~Gastroparesis management requires a specialized diet and medication. In combination with diabetes, this is complicated. Gastroparesis can cause dehydration. Dehydration leads to kidney damage. Kidney damage leads to kidney failure. Kidney failure leads to the dark side... and dialysis.

Migraines- diagnosed 2023

~These migraines cause her to have weakness and mobility problems for several days after the initial episode.

Skin Cancer- diagnosed and removed 2023

~Basil Cell Carcinoma removed from her neck.

DONATION/COST BREAKDOWN

The following cost breakdown is estimated based on current costs and assumes that Stacy has decent insurance, otherwise, the yearly costs would exceed $100k. Out-of-pocket medical expenses (shown below) alone are just over $18k a year.

OTC medications (antihistamines, anti-diarrheal, vitamins, etc.)- $775 yearly
Medical Deductible- $7500 yearly
Insurance Premiums- $1800 yearly
Out of Pocket Emergencies (gap insurance, equipment replacement, etc.) - $3000 yearly
Specialized diet- $100 weekly, or $5200 yearly
Diabetic specific foods (glucose tablets, etc.) - $120 yearly

Your donations will be used to meet the following immediate expense goals (in order of urgency):

$5000- Covers the current medical expenses accrued.
$18000- Covers the yearly out-of-pocket medical needs discussed above.

These donations total $23,000 for a minimum of what Stacy needs to survive in a worst-case scenario situation. (We are asking for $25,000 to cover fees.) Any contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way in providing Stacy with the chance to stay alive. Your support will not only bring Stacy hope but will also inspire others who silently suffer in abusive situations and are too scared or vulnerable to leave. Let us take a stand against abuse and work towards creating a safer, more compassionate society for all.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Your kindness and empathy changes lives.

Donate