Joanne Needs our Help
Donation protected
Dear Friends,
This is incredibly hard to write, our family likes to be the helpers, rather than ask for help – but here we are. My sister, Joanne, is in a place where we need to be vulnerable and ask for help for her.
For those of you who know Joanne, you know her generosity knows no bounds, even when it is to her detriment. Her heart is bigger then she is. She puts on a tough façade, and IS a badass, but she is incredibly caring, kind and sensitive. You are lucky if you have had her as a friend. If she could take on this challenge all on her own as to not upset or inconvenience anyone, she would BUT we have convinced her to let the people who care for her help.
In the last two weeks, Joanne has received some devastating news. She has cervical cancer and a tumor in her uterus. She found out yesterday that she is going to have to undergo radiation and chemotherapy, and depending on the results, possibly surgery. Of course, everyone’s first thought was that she should go home to Canada for treatment. Unfortunately, time is not on our side. Joanne’s tumor has a risk of rupture and bleeding, and it would take over three months just to apply for OHIP, then waiting, then the time to get a doctor and be scheduled in. It would just take too long and she needs to start treatment as soon as possible. Her next appointment is the 19th.
Unfortunately, Joanne doesn’t have medical insurance. Thankfully, the hospital she is getting treatment at is a non-profit and is trying to work with her as best they can with assistance. She has been told to expect a bill of at least $150,000. Some of this the hospital will hopefully assist with, some she will need to finance, but a large portion she will need to pay for up front and out-of-pocket. The upfront costs for certain procedures and for things like medications will be crippling. It is breaking my heart that since her diagnosis, Joanne and AJ haven’t really had time to digest what is happening and focus on her health because they are concentrating on how they will pay for all this.
If you can spare a few dollars to help us ease the burden on Joanne and AJ, we would be forever grateful to you and your family. Saying thank you doesn’t seem to be enough but, thank you!
This is incredibly hard to write, our family likes to be the helpers, rather than ask for help – but here we are. My sister, Joanne, is in a place where we need to be vulnerable and ask for help for her.
For those of you who know Joanne, you know her generosity knows no bounds, even when it is to her detriment. Her heart is bigger then she is. She puts on a tough façade, and IS a badass, but she is incredibly caring, kind and sensitive. You are lucky if you have had her as a friend. If she could take on this challenge all on her own as to not upset or inconvenience anyone, she would BUT we have convinced her to let the people who care for her help.
In the last two weeks, Joanne has received some devastating news. She has cervical cancer and a tumor in her uterus. She found out yesterday that she is going to have to undergo radiation and chemotherapy, and depending on the results, possibly surgery. Of course, everyone’s first thought was that she should go home to Canada for treatment. Unfortunately, time is not on our side. Joanne’s tumor has a risk of rupture and bleeding, and it would take over three months just to apply for OHIP, then waiting, then the time to get a doctor and be scheduled in. It would just take too long and she needs to start treatment as soon as possible. Her next appointment is the 19th.
Unfortunately, Joanne doesn’t have medical insurance. Thankfully, the hospital she is getting treatment at is a non-profit and is trying to work with her as best they can with assistance. She has been told to expect a bill of at least $150,000. Some of this the hospital will hopefully assist with, some she will need to finance, but a large portion she will need to pay for up front and out-of-pocket. The upfront costs for certain procedures and for things like medications will be crippling. It is breaking my heart that since her diagnosis, Joanne and AJ haven’t really had time to digest what is happening and focus on her health because they are concentrating on how they will pay for all this.
If you can spare a few dollars to help us ease the burden on Joanne and AJ, we would be forever grateful to you and your family. Saying thank you doesn’t seem to be enough but, thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jane Barnett
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Joanne Barnett
Beneficiary