Janine's Hospital/Insulin Pump Fund
Hello! My name is Janine Rajala, my life-long battle with Type 1 Diabetes began at age 10. Throughout the last 15 years my journey with T1D has been extremely challenging, in high school I was classified as 1 of 6 diabetics in the state of Wisconsin whom had a case many doctors couldn't figure out; more commonly known as Brittle Diabetes.
This sadly has landed me in the hospital with DKA more times than most diabetics, and has posed a serious threat to the well being of my internal organs and pushes me to take even closer care of myself. Sadly, I can do all I can to take care of myself but rely heavily on medical devices that can sometimes fail or break.
More info on DKA
My most recent hospital visit was caused by a malfunction in my insulin pump's motor; I was not receiving the correct amount of insulin despite my pump telling me otherwise. I was not aware that my pump was malfunctioning and the situation escalated quickly landing me in the ER with DKA. I was held in the ICU for 5 days while doctors and nurses worked diligently to figure out a treatment plan for me. Not only was I stuck in the hospital for 5 days, I now needed to purchase a new pump.
Being a Type 1 Diabetic for 15yrs, I am no stranger to the insane amount of money that goes into my treatment. On average I have to spend $688 a month for insulin and various supplies (Infusion sets, Reservoirs, Test Strips etc) that go into my basic care. This is the price I pay to survive and does not include health insurance premiums (after paying the $7,000 deductible).
Now I have to go through the steps of buying a new pump; I have decided on the Tandem T:Slim X2 which has the ability to connect with the Dexcom G6 CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor), as well as many other groundbreaking technologies that are extremely helpful in managing T1D. Insulin Pump therapy has proven to be better than any other diabetes treatment on the market.
Those that know me, know that asking for help is hard. I'm reaching out for support because it's been a great cause of financial stress, and has attributed to high anxiety.
Hospital Bill - $5,799
Insulin Pump - $3,657
Total: $9,456
I appreciate all of the love and support from my family and friends so far along this journey, I wouldn't have made it this far without it. Thank you so very much!
