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Dear Reader,
First, thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering helping us with a donation! Please know that it was very difficult for us as a family to decide to make this campaign. Turns out it is not that easy to let your guard down and ask for help. However, the reality of the situation is medical expenses are outrageously high, and we DO need help!! What made us finally decide to create this page was the overwhelming inquiries we had from friends and family members.
Lorraine is a loving mom, wife, grandmother, sister, and friend. She started to suffer what we believed to be pulled muscles in her back dating back to June of 2016. She sought medical advice and attended physical therapy for about a month and a half after having taken an x-ray that showed nothing out of the ordinary. When her pain only worsened from physical therapy, she returned to her doctor to have a MRI done on her back. The MRI showed a fracture in her L1 vertebrae.
To save on some of the chaotic mishaps that occurred after the MRI, I will fast forward in time a bit. Lorraine was admitted to the hospital on November 1, 2016 after her doctor noted some distinct differences from her initial x-ray to her MRI. After being admitted, she immediately began undergoing tests including blood work, x-rays, CT scans, and a bronchoscopy. On November 4th, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer that had metastasized to her bones (primarily her spine). She remained in the hospital until November 22nd, and during that time had regular tests and imaging done to monitor her condition, as well as several visits from different doctors and specialist. She also underwent radiation treatment to her spine.
The expenses for her to be at home include her rented hospital bed, medicine, and medical supplies. We also had follow up visits with radiologist and other doctors that she had seen while hospitalized. She also had her consult with her oncologist after being home. Because Mom was having such difficulties walking and standing at this point, her radiologist ordered some radiation for her hip and thigh area (by this point in time, we had been informed that the cancer had also been in her legs and hips as well). On December 1st, Mom ended up being admitted into St. Joseph’s due to excruciating pain in her hips and legs. This hospitalization lasted 9 days. During this time, she underwent her radiation treatment to her hips and legs. We also learned that the cancer in her hip area had caused the top of her left femur to fracture, which is what was causing the pain. Because of this, she underwent surgery to have a metal rod inserted the length of her left femur. She also had a Kyphoplasty done on her back to fill one of her fractured vertebrae (they couldn’t get to all of them). Also, more bloodwork, x-rays, and consultations were done.
After her discharge this time, she had more follow up visits with doctors, and home health care (nurse and physical therapist) was assigned to Mom. Both her nurse and physical therapist came to the house twice a week. Lorraine received her first infusion on December 30th. Her infusion is a brand-new type of chemo called immunotherapy. As you can imagine, because it is so new and highly specialized, it has a pretty price tag to go along with it.
Fast forward to January 13th, when Lorraine was again hospitalized at St. Josephs. By this time, Mom was no longer able to get up out of bed. She had horrific pain in her right shoulder, and some aching in her right leg. When she was admitted on the 13th, she arrived in critical condition. We learned that her cancer had advanced and was now effecting practically every bone in her body. The pain in her right shoulder was due to the cancer causing her scapula to literally crumble inside her. Because of the increase in bones breaking, her calcium levels had increased to 12.5, and medical emergency is 14. She was given different fluids via IV to counteract the hypercalcemia. She had several consultations with numerous medical professionals. She also had a procedure done on her shoulder to freeze some of the cancer tumors and kill them off to help with her pain. She again underwent radiation to her shoulder and spine. Also, her second infusion was given to her while she was hospitalized. When she was discharged, she was brought home via ambulance, since any other form of transportation was out of the question.
Her home health care has continued, and another nurse has been added to come twice a week to give her sponge baths. Because she is bed-ridden, she now needs be admitted to the hospital for every infusion (every 3 weeks). For her third infusion, she was admitted Monday night and discharged Tuesday. We also must get ambulance transportation to and from the hospital.
During this whirlwind that began in November, her daughter Robyn has been on a Family Medical Leave of Absence from work to be her primary care giver. Her husband Tom has also taken numerous weeks off work. Her other daughter Rachel took numerous days off work, and thus lost her full-time position and salary income. So, as you can see, just the time off from these people living in the same house is severe enough!! Add on top of that all the medical expenses: tests, imaging, radiation, infusions, consultations, observation, medication, home care, ambulance rides, home hospital bed, doctors’ appointments, surgeries/procedures, and medical supplies for home. The expenses far surpass the income our household is receiving for the time being.
We thought we could manage it and make it work. However, the lost income from all the time off for the three of us is being greatly felt right now, and the burden of medical expenses is further increasing. Because of that, along with the requests of our loving and supportive friends and family, we are creating this campaign. We hope no one feels as though we are exploiting my mom and her situation! That is not at all what we are doing. We are finally realizing just how extreme and overwhelming medical expenses can be!
We have already received a remarkable amount of love and support from countless people!! Please know that your words and love are GREATLY appreciated!
We want to say thank you in advance to any of those who are willing and able to support us financially during this time!
Love and many thanks to you all!! God bless!!
First, thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering helping us with a donation! Please know that it was very difficult for us as a family to decide to make this campaign. Turns out it is not that easy to let your guard down and ask for help. However, the reality of the situation is medical expenses are outrageously high, and we DO need help!! What made us finally decide to create this page was the overwhelming inquiries we had from friends and family members.
Lorraine is a loving mom, wife, grandmother, sister, and friend. She started to suffer what we believed to be pulled muscles in her back dating back to June of 2016. She sought medical advice and attended physical therapy for about a month and a half after having taken an x-ray that showed nothing out of the ordinary. When her pain only worsened from physical therapy, she returned to her doctor to have a MRI done on her back. The MRI showed a fracture in her L1 vertebrae.
To save on some of the chaotic mishaps that occurred after the MRI, I will fast forward in time a bit. Lorraine was admitted to the hospital on November 1, 2016 after her doctor noted some distinct differences from her initial x-ray to her MRI. After being admitted, she immediately began undergoing tests including blood work, x-rays, CT scans, and a bronchoscopy. On November 4th, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer that had metastasized to her bones (primarily her spine). She remained in the hospital until November 22nd, and during that time had regular tests and imaging done to monitor her condition, as well as several visits from different doctors and specialist. She also underwent radiation treatment to her spine.
The expenses for her to be at home include her rented hospital bed, medicine, and medical supplies. We also had follow up visits with radiologist and other doctors that she had seen while hospitalized. She also had her consult with her oncologist after being home. Because Mom was having such difficulties walking and standing at this point, her radiologist ordered some radiation for her hip and thigh area (by this point in time, we had been informed that the cancer had also been in her legs and hips as well). On December 1st, Mom ended up being admitted into St. Joseph’s due to excruciating pain in her hips and legs. This hospitalization lasted 9 days. During this time, she underwent her radiation treatment to her hips and legs. We also learned that the cancer in her hip area had caused the top of her left femur to fracture, which is what was causing the pain. Because of this, she underwent surgery to have a metal rod inserted the length of her left femur. She also had a Kyphoplasty done on her back to fill one of her fractured vertebrae (they couldn’t get to all of them). Also, more bloodwork, x-rays, and consultations were done.
After her discharge this time, she had more follow up visits with doctors, and home health care (nurse and physical therapist) was assigned to Mom. Both her nurse and physical therapist came to the house twice a week. Lorraine received her first infusion on December 30th. Her infusion is a brand-new type of chemo called immunotherapy. As you can imagine, because it is so new and highly specialized, it has a pretty price tag to go along with it.
Fast forward to January 13th, when Lorraine was again hospitalized at St. Josephs. By this time, Mom was no longer able to get up out of bed. She had horrific pain in her right shoulder, and some aching in her right leg. When she was admitted on the 13th, she arrived in critical condition. We learned that her cancer had advanced and was now effecting practically every bone in her body. The pain in her right shoulder was due to the cancer causing her scapula to literally crumble inside her. Because of the increase in bones breaking, her calcium levels had increased to 12.5, and medical emergency is 14. She was given different fluids via IV to counteract the hypercalcemia. She had several consultations with numerous medical professionals. She also had a procedure done on her shoulder to freeze some of the cancer tumors and kill them off to help with her pain. She again underwent radiation to her shoulder and spine. Also, her second infusion was given to her while she was hospitalized. When she was discharged, she was brought home via ambulance, since any other form of transportation was out of the question.
Her home health care has continued, and another nurse has been added to come twice a week to give her sponge baths. Because she is bed-ridden, she now needs be admitted to the hospital for every infusion (every 3 weeks). For her third infusion, she was admitted Monday night and discharged Tuesday. We also must get ambulance transportation to and from the hospital.
During this whirlwind that began in November, her daughter Robyn has been on a Family Medical Leave of Absence from work to be her primary care giver. Her husband Tom has also taken numerous weeks off work. Her other daughter Rachel took numerous days off work, and thus lost her full-time position and salary income. So, as you can see, just the time off from these people living in the same house is severe enough!! Add on top of that all the medical expenses: tests, imaging, radiation, infusions, consultations, observation, medication, home care, ambulance rides, home hospital bed, doctors’ appointments, surgeries/procedures, and medical supplies for home. The expenses far surpass the income our household is receiving for the time being.
We thought we could manage it and make it work. However, the lost income from all the time off for the three of us is being greatly felt right now, and the burden of medical expenses is further increasing. Because of that, along with the requests of our loving and supportive friends and family, we are creating this campaign. We hope no one feels as though we are exploiting my mom and her situation! That is not at all what we are doing. We are finally realizing just how extreme and overwhelming medical expenses can be!
We have already received a remarkable amount of love and support from countless people!! Please know that your words and love are GREATLY appreciated!
We want to say thank you in advance to any of those who are willing and able to support us financially during this time!
Love and many thanks to you all!! God bless!!