Help Yohana wrap up that surgery! (This Monday)

Yohana is a mom in her 30s, a neighbor of ours. She should be spending time with her two boys, 13-year-old Denis and 10-year-old Iker. Instead, she's worrying about a brain tumor.

Maybe you remember that I wrote you about Yohana a few months ago, when her doctors found that the tumor was (thank God) benign but nonetheless life-threatening without surgery. Normally, it would have been no problem for Yohana to get a surgery like that. It was a big problem, though, because Yohana doesn't have health insurance. She came to this country eight years ago from Honduras seeking refuge from persecution. And while her family finds its way through the court system, she's not eligible for insurance.

People really pulled together -- including many of you! -- and raised thousands of dollars for the hosptial co-pay. That fundraising, along with some generous charity care provided by Yohana's doctors, was just enough to cover the surgery expenses, and, thankfully, she had a successful operation this past April, one day after Easter.

Now, her doctors need to do a three-month exam to see about the results of the surgery. And this requires an MRI plus some specialist visits . . . which means a copay of about $900 that Yohana doesn't have.

Yohana has been calling the hospital all week and the current copay is the best she can get. Her MRI is scheduled for Monday. Please lend a hand if you can. Let's help Yohana back to being with her family soon.