Ilona's Breast Cancer Treatment Fund
Donation protected
Hello friends and family,
I met Ilona Rimoczy over 5 years ago in our community Buddhist temple. I was immediately drawn to her warmth, kindness and welcoming manner, her curiosity about me, and interest in showing me aspects of the temple, introduing me to other members of the community. She has acquired so much wisdom in her life (she's a little bit older than me), and she generously shares knowledge and gently gives you a push when you need to hear something! She is smart, funny, a joy to be around, and she has dedicated so much of her life to serving others. As an occupational therapist to people living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, she gave so much of herself caring for others' wellness, compassionately and selflessly. Ilona was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in June 2020 , and has already undergone 5 rounds of chemotherapy. She faces surgery next, radiation, and possibly immunotherapy or more chemotherapy. I have been moved by her strngth and courageous steps to save her own life by seeking treatment during a pandemic when so many are afraid to enter hospitals for treatment and being immunocompromised at this time puts a person at greater risk for COVID-19. Ilona has had to stop working, her work was very physically demanding, caring for those with dementia, and the chemotherapy treatment side effects of fatigue, alone, make it extremely difficult to continue to work.
While working in healthcare, and specifically, in oncology and palliative care for 15 years as a Clinical Social Worker, caring for people living with cancer has been an important part of my life. One of many things I learned, is that people living with cancer, need support from a community, it literally does take "a village" to help someone manage the many side effects, which can be devastating, debilitating and life-altering. Besides the physical, emotional and existential toll of going through multiple phases of treatment, the inability to meet the many costs associated with treatment (otherwise known as "financial toxicity")
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/track-care-costs/financial-toxicity-pdq
is one of the most difficult side effects to confront and overcome. Many people across the US, unfortunately deplete their bank accounts trying to pay medical bills as they have to stop working to undergo treatment. Sometimes, costs to transport theselves to treatment and to prepare the foods in accordance with a recommended diet or hire an aide to help with daily living activities supercede what someone has saved after working for many years. The dramatic domino effect of the constant depletion of funds can lead someone to face eviction, homelessness and their ability to continue their treatment and dramatically affect their surivival outcomes. This is clearly the worst case scenario, and as a community, what we always try to prevent, but it does take lending support to someone throughout their treatment to make sure they can sustain what can be a long distance endeavor.
Today, I am lauching this fundraiser as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day as he pursued many social justice issues, including health as a human right.
MLK said,
"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death. I see no alternative to direct action and creative nonviolence to raise the conscience of the nation."
The plan for the money raised in this fundraiser is for all the funds to go directly to Ilona to help her with rent, utilities, transportation to treatment, copays, prescriptons, a wig, personal care items, food, possible need for a home health aide, bandages, wound packing supplies, new clothes if she loses or gains weight, and other care items that may not be covered by her health insurance.
Thank you all for reading Ilona's story as we all strive to seek more justice and equality in the healthcare system. There is no reason that anyone should face cancer, COVID-19 or any other illness alone. There is no reason that an illness should financially devastate a person or family. I am grateful that these online platforms and the strength of social networks can bring us together,during a time of physical distancing, to at the very least, raise awareness and our own consciousness of what people in our communities are facing every day.
Thank you again-- Peace and the best of health to Ilona and to all listening,
Amanda J. Amodio
***In the midst of a pandemic, we are all concerned about our own health, the health of others, accessing affordable care, and receiving the best quality of care possible. Many of us are under or unemployed, financially burdened right now, and cannot consider a fundraiser, so I appreciate you reading this and considering a few dollars to give, to Ilona, I know, many do not have much to give to others right now.
I met Ilona Rimoczy over 5 years ago in our community Buddhist temple. I was immediately drawn to her warmth, kindness and welcoming manner, her curiosity about me, and interest in showing me aspects of the temple, introduing me to other members of the community. She has acquired so much wisdom in her life (she's a little bit older than me), and she generously shares knowledge and gently gives you a push when you need to hear something! She is smart, funny, a joy to be around, and she has dedicated so much of her life to serving others. As an occupational therapist to people living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, she gave so much of herself caring for others' wellness, compassionately and selflessly. Ilona was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in June 2020 , and has already undergone 5 rounds of chemotherapy. She faces surgery next, radiation, and possibly immunotherapy or more chemotherapy. I have been moved by her strngth and courageous steps to save her own life by seeking treatment during a pandemic when so many are afraid to enter hospitals for treatment and being immunocompromised at this time puts a person at greater risk for COVID-19. Ilona has had to stop working, her work was very physically demanding, caring for those with dementia, and the chemotherapy treatment side effects of fatigue, alone, make it extremely difficult to continue to work.
While working in healthcare, and specifically, in oncology and palliative care for 15 years as a Clinical Social Worker, caring for people living with cancer has been an important part of my life. One of many things I learned, is that people living with cancer, need support from a community, it literally does take "a village" to help someone manage the many side effects, which can be devastating, debilitating and life-altering. Besides the physical, emotional and existential toll of going through multiple phases of treatment, the inability to meet the many costs associated with treatment (otherwise known as "financial toxicity")
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/track-care-costs/financial-toxicity-pdq
is one of the most difficult side effects to confront and overcome. Many people across the US, unfortunately deplete their bank accounts trying to pay medical bills as they have to stop working to undergo treatment. Sometimes, costs to transport theselves to treatment and to prepare the foods in accordance with a recommended diet or hire an aide to help with daily living activities supercede what someone has saved after working for many years. The dramatic domino effect of the constant depletion of funds can lead someone to face eviction, homelessness and their ability to continue their treatment and dramatically affect their surivival outcomes. This is clearly the worst case scenario, and as a community, what we always try to prevent, but it does take lending support to someone throughout their treatment to make sure they can sustain what can be a long distance endeavor.
Today, I am lauching this fundraiser as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day as he pursued many social justice issues, including health as a human right.
MLK said,
"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death. I see no alternative to direct action and creative nonviolence to raise the conscience of the nation."
The plan for the money raised in this fundraiser is for all the funds to go directly to Ilona to help her with rent, utilities, transportation to treatment, copays, prescriptons, a wig, personal care items, food, possible need for a home health aide, bandages, wound packing supplies, new clothes if she loses or gains weight, and other care items that may not be covered by her health insurance.
Thank you all for reading Ilona's story as we all strive to seek more justice and equality in the healthcare system. There is no reason that anyone should face cancer, COVID-19 or any other illness alone. There is no reason that an illness should financially devastate a person or family. I am grateful that these online platforms and the strength of social networks can bring us together,during a time of physical distancing, to at the very least, raise awareness and our own consciousness of what people in our communities are facing every day.
Thank you again-- Peace and the best of health to Ilona and to all listening,
Amanda J. Amodio
***In the midst of a pandemic, we are all concerned about our own health, the health of others, accessing affordable care, and receiving the best quality of care possible. Many of us are under or unemployed, financially burdened right now, and cannot consider a fundraiser, so I appreciate you reading this and considering a few dollars to give, to Ilona, I know, many do not have much to give to others right now.
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Amodio
Organizer
Ossining, NY
Ilona Rimoczy
Beneficiary