Pam's Medical and Expense Fund

Hi, my name is Pam.  Two years ago I woke up to find that the right side of my face was paralized.  My son, Michael, took me to the emergency room where they assured me I just had bells palsy.  For two years I have suffered pain, low grade fevers and fatique with no answers from doctors.   The picture above is one of the last where I could actually smile as I have no feeling, no taste or use of the right side of my face.  For the past six months the right side of my face was swelling and I had more pain than normal.  A co-worker suggested I go to an ENT doctor.  So in January of this year I did and low and behold I have adenocarcinoma of the right parotid gland.  The cancer has also spread into the right ear area and up into the cranium.  It is an aggresive cancer that travels on your nerves.  This is what caused the bells palsy two years ago.  I will be having surgery on 2/27/15 to have the parotid gland removed, part of my jaw bone removed and a hole drilled in my skull to remove the cancer that has travelled into the cranium.  I hope to be able to keep my hearing in the right side but they won't know until after the surgery. The surgery will be for a minimum of 10 hours with five doctors performing various parts of the surgery.  I will be in the hospital for 5 to 7 days with 2 weeks recovery at home and then onto radiation treatments and possibly chemo.  I just went for a PET scan yesterday to see if it has traveled anywhere else.  I am praying it has not.  I feel like I am living in a nightmare and I cannot help but worry about paying my rent, utility bills, handling the surgery, my recovery, etc.  I am normally a very proud person and would never ask for help, whether financially or otherwise, but for the first time in my life, I need help.  I have been single for 9 years and do not have a second income from a spouse or significant other to rely on.   I am now facing insurance co-pays alone of well over $11,000 as that is the limit on my health insurance ($6,000 out-of-pocket through 2/28/15 and $5,000 after 3/1/15).   Yes, my insurance renews on March 1, 2015, two days after my surgery, so I have to meet the out-of-pocket maximums for the current plan and the new plan.  I already have co-pays for imaging that I have not paid. Cannot wait to see those bills, NOT! I have no short term disabiity insurance and my long term won't come into effect until I am out of work for a straight 90 days.  I do not plan on being out that long if I have anything to say.  I hope, at the least, I will be able to work from home as my office has offered to me.   Please keep me in your prayers and if you are able to help in any way I promise to pay it forward.  Thank you.