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Hello,
My name is Mark. I am a 50 year old male. On June 8th after an MRI on my brain and an extended kidney infection (urinating blood) I recieved a call from the MRI tech advising us to take me to our local ER. Once there with the MRI films I was advanced to the front of the line. Within 5 minutes we were in a trauma room. At that point I realized that the busiest trauma ER's in Northeast Oklahoma had just bumped me to the front of the line. I knew things were not good at that point. After a chest X-ray, CT scan, blood work up, we (my family and I) found out that I have stage IV mestastized cancer. The cancer originating in my right kidney and then spread to my lungs and brain. Saying that the tears and fears were immediate is the understatement of my life. Now we are facing even bigger problems. We have no heath insurance, limited income (I lost my job due to health issues/performance) and my wife owns her own business. Like everyone else, we have credit cards, car payment, house payment, and a fatal diagnosis. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS????????? So I was admitted to Neuro ICU due to the tumors on my brain and to help with the seizures. Over the next 3 days it was a whirlwind of doctors, financial aid workers, and nurses adminstering IV drugs. Those were 4 of the most blurry days I can remember. On the 3rd day after I was released they began Radiation therapy on my brain in a very intense and concentrated area. in the 4 days following I really experienced cognitive and mechanical skill improvement. The following Monday I had my first appointment with the oncologist and I was told I cannot drive or work, not that I have the energy to do that anyway. The bills are continuing to roll in. My wife went back to work the next day just to keep from losing our business and home. I tried to help my wife at her dog grooming shop and really struggle to focus on the most simple task. We learned that IF we had insurance that the co-payment would be $800 per month. Without insurance it's $1000 per chemo pill. I have to take 4 pills of votrient per day. I had some cash saved but that is all but gone now. We are on the ragged edge of losing it all that we have worked so hard for. I know this is the toughest thing I have ever faced; watching the fear and insecurity on my wife's face, wondering if today is the last one or 5 years from now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Sincerely,
Mark and Jeanna Brown
My name is Mark. I am a 50 year old male. On June 8th after an MRI on my brain and an extended kidney infection (urinating blood) I recieved a call from the MRI tech advising us to take me to our local ER. Once there with the MRI films I was advanced to the front of the line. Within 5 minutes we were in a trauma room. At that point I realized that the busiest trauma ER's in Northeast Oklahoma had just bumped me to the front of the line. I knew things were not good at that point. After a chest X-ray, CT scan, blood work up, we (my family and I) found out that I have stage IV mestastized cancer. The cancer originating in my right kidney and then spread to my lungs and brain. Saying that the tears and fears were immediate is the understatement of my life. Now we are facing even bigger problems. We have no heath insurance, limited income (I lost my job due to health issues/performance) and my wife owns her own business. Like everyone else, we have credit cards, car payment, house payment, and a fatal diagnosis. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS????????? So I was admitted to Neuro ICU due to the tumors on my brain and to help with the seizures. Over the next 3 days it was a whirlwind of doctors, financial aid workers, and nurses adminstering IV drugs. Those were 4 of the most blurry days I can remember. On the 3rd day after I was released they began Radiation therapy on my brain in a very intense and concentrated area. in the 4 days following I really experienced cognitive and mechanical skill improvement. The following Monday I had my first appointment with the oncologist and I was told I cannot drive or work, not that I have the energy to do that anyway. The bills are continuing to roll in. My wife went back to work the next day just to keep from losing our business and home. I tried to help my wife at her dog grooming shop and really struggle to focus on the most simple task. We learned that IF we had insurance that the co-payment would be $800 per month. Without insurance it's $1000 per chemo pill. I have to take 4 pills of votrient per day. I had some cash saved but that is all but gone now. We are on the ragged edge of losing it all that we have worked so hard for. I know this is the toughest thing I have ever faced; watching the fear and insecurity on my wife's face, wondering if today is the last one or 5 years from now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Sincerely,
Mark and Jeanna Brown