Janet's Health and Wellbeing
Donation protected
My aunt has been fighting off cancer for more than 18 years at this point. She has fought so courageously and with so much pride that she hasn’t asked for help until now.
You see she was diagnosed with advanced metastatic breast cancer after the birth of my cousin, her only child at the age of 40. She was diagnosed with this incurable devastating terminal disease.
The first years she fought so hard to maintain a normal life with passion. Her mission changed from material and monetary position to showing her little girl that a woman can succeed ... even in the face of serious illness. She has always worked hard to make sure her sweet girls’ happiness and light not be drowned by talk of hospital bills and doctors appointments.
For the first 3 years of her daughters life she was unable to pick her up due to cancer diminishing any bone or strength in her right arm; and though it pained her, she was and still is so grateful for her loving and faithful husband. Making up where she could not, more than one could possibly know.
He is now and forever more the most dedicated man, a rock to his little family.
As the years have worn on, Janet has been so fortunate to have survived this long, though each year bringing more obstacles and progression; The worst has transpired in the last year.
Janet had always tried to work as much as she could to help her family, last February she suddenly lost use of her right hand. This is the same arm that was affected many years before but now there was highly resilient determined tumor that had grown around her brachial plexus nerves and artery. She had surgery last May hoping to regain use of her hand. Instead she left surgery having lost use of her entire right arm, her hand permanently drooping from her forearm, no trace of use - nothing.
Just before her surgery for the tumor; she began having terrible pain in her left shoulder and arm. Unfortunately the focus from the doctors was mainly on the right arm, while her left arm continued to deteriorate. The pain resulted in another 10 days in the hospital, still no reason determined as to the left arm pain. Finally, in early August an MRI showed progression of cancer to the spine and soft tissue of the foreman. As she was going through all of the consultations of what the next step should before her left arm continued to deteriorate. Ultimately leaving her with very little strength, no fine motor skills, no ability to write, prepare food, most anything, especially dressing herself. She no longer can even zip and button her own pants.
At the same time last year there was progression found in her lungs, which required they put her chemo therapy treatments on hold several times while having surgery and having radiation on the spinal progression.
In September, Janet’s husband woke in the middle of the night to find her curled in a ball in the living room crying and speaking in Italian. (My aunt only wishes she was really fluent in Italian.) She was delirious so her husband called the ambulance and they took her back to UCSD for what they didn’t know yet. Ultimately it turned out, that Janet had contracted encephalitis (brain poisoning). Several years before due to chemotherapy issues she had to have a shunt put in her liver to alleviate portal hyper pressure. Yes she was told, would put her at risk for encephalitis. She had always been so careful; and to this day we don’t know how it happened. However she still feels some affects of it.
So after so many years of pride and humility, she has finally reached out for assistance. It seems that calculations that would provide her with some assistance towards insurance, she missed by a fraction. People should know that when you become ill like this, all the expenses. Beyond even medical bills, are not taking into consideration when applying for financial assistance. With that, in order for her to be able to pay almost $35,000 in medical bills, she needs to pay out of pocket close to $7000 in co-pays. Her secondary insurance will not pick up the resulting bills without her co-pays being met.
She has always worked enough to help out and keep up. But no longer has that ability to work. If you know my Aunt Janet, you know she has tried and tried. Because this woman doesn’t give up. But really, what kind of work can you do when you can’t be certain you will have the energy to meet the demands — never mind for a limited ability to use a keyboard.
This has caused Janet not only worry about all of the bills that have been sent to collections, her credit rating gone out the window; but, leaving her husband with this financial mess at the time of her passing.
Janet always keeps a sense of humor and the passion of each new day. For a sweet daughter who is now 19 years old is the light of her life and gives her purpose to each and every day.
We are now reaching out to our friends and family to ask if you can give, please do. Even when Janet and I were discussing finally setting up one of these for her, she didn’t want to. She knows there are so many people out there struggling too. But we really don’t see another way out of this situation at this point.
You see she was diagnosed with advanced metastatic breast cancer after the birth of my cousin, her only child at the age of 40. She was diagnosed with this incurable devastating terminal disease.
The first years she fought so hard to maintain a normal life with passion. Her mission changed from material and monetary position to showing her little girl that a woman can succeed ... even in the face of serious illness. She has always worked hard to make sure her sweet girls’ happiness and light not be drowned by talk of hospital bills and doctors appointments.
For the first 3 years of her daughters life she was unable to pick her up due to cancer diminishing any bone or strength in her right arm; and though it pained her, she was and still is so grateful for her loving and faithful husband. Making up where she could not, more than one could possibly know.
He is now and forever more the most dedicated man, a rock to his little family.
As the years have worn on, Janet has been so fortunate to have survived this long, though each year bringing more obstacles and progression; The worst has transpired in the last year.
Janet had always tried to work as much as she could to help her family, last February she suddenly lost use of her right hand. This is the same arm that was affected many years before but now there was highly resilient determined tumor that had grown around her brachial plexus nerves and artery. She had surgery last May hoping to regain use of her hand. Instead she left surgery having lost use of her entire right arm, her hand permanently drooping from her forearm, no trace of use - nothing.
Just before her surgery for the tumor; she began having terrible pain in her left shoulder and arm. Unfortunately the focus from the doctors was mainly on the right arm, while her left arm continued to deteriorate. The pain resulted in another 10 days in the hospital, still no reason determined as to the left arm pain. Finally, in early August an MRI showed progression of cancer to the spine and soft tissue of the foreman. As she was going through all of the consultations of what the next step should before her left arm continued to deteriorate. Ultimately leaving her with very little strength, no fine motor skills, no ability to write, prepare food, most anything, especially dressing herself. She no longer can even zip and button her own pants.
At the same time last year there was progression found in her lungs, which required they put her chemo therapy treatments on hold several times while having surgery and having radiation on the spinal progression.
In September, Janet’s husband woke in the middle of the night to find her curled in a ball in the living room crying and speaking in Italian. (My aunt only wishes she was really fluent in Italian.) She was delirious so her husband called the ambulance and they took her back to UCSD for what they didn’t know yet. Ultimately it turned out, that Janet had contracted encephalitis (brain poisoning). Several years before due to chemotherapy issues she had to have a shunt put in her liver to alleviate portal hyper pressure. Yes she was told, would put her at risk for encephalitis. She had always been so careful; and to this day we don’t know how it happened. However she still feels some affects of it.
So after so many years of pride and humility, she has finally reached out for assistance. It seems that calculations that would provide her with some assistance towards insurance, she missed by a fraction. People should know that when you become ill like this, all the expenses. Beyond even medical bills, are not taking into consideration when applying for financial assistance. With that, in order for her to be able to pay almost $35,000 in medical bills, she needs to pay out of pocket close to $7000 in co-pays. Her secondary insurance will not pick up the resulting bills without her co-pays being met.
She has always worked enough to help out and keep up. But no longer has that ability to work. If you know my Aunt Janet, you know she has tried and tried. Because this woman doesn’t give up. But really, what kind of work can you do when you can’t be certain you will have the energy to meet the demands — never mind for a limited ability to use a keyboard.
This has caused Janet not only worry about all of the bills that have been sent to collections, her credit rating gone out the window; but, leaving her husband with this financial mess at the time of her passing.
Janet always keeps a sense of humor and the passion of each new day. For a sweet daughter who is now 19 years old is the light of her life and gives her purpose to each and every day.
We are now reaching out to our friends and family to ask if you can give, please do. Even when Janet and I were discussing finally setting up one of these for her, she didn’t want to. She knows there are so many people out there struggling too. But we really don’t see another way out of this situation at this point.
Organizer and beneficiary
Elaina Hanson
Organizer
Middleboro, MA
Janet Russell
Beneficiary