Medical treatment and expenses for Dianne Goulet

For the past seven years, Dianne has been battling a combination of rare diseases that don’t play well together. Over the last three years, her health has deteriorated rapidly as one rare disease in particular causes progressive damage to her heart, lungs, and autonomic nervous system.

On top of those issues, last June Dianne was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow cancer. From a medical perspective, the only hope of remission is a bone marrow transplant; due to her other health conditions she is not likely to survive that procedure and is therefore not eligible. There is a medication that can slow the progression of the cancer, but it has significant and potentially life-threatening side effects. In addition, it leaves her immunosuppressed. Nevertheless, this treatment path has been deemed necessary. We along with Dianne are praying for the miracle, but are also grateful that she has finally found good specialists who have experience treating her rare conditions and can help her work toward a more stable body and better quality of life. However, they are all located in Jackson & Birmingham.

Between frequent appointments, copays, one life-sustaining medication that her insurance doesn’t cover, and travel costs for out-of-town appointments and procedures, her monthly out of pocket medical costs run between $850-$1000.

A registered nurse who also has many strong administrative and communication skills and compassion for everyone, Dianne served our communities for over a decade, often working full time hours in a volunteer capacity to serve women in crisis pregnancies, the homeless, the sick, and anyone on the margins of society. Although she wants to work, she has been unable to the past few years due to her health, which is still quite variable on a day-to-day basis.

She is a single parent and does receive child support, but that covers only about 1/3 of monthly household needs. Her mother has been helping financially, but that can no longer continue. Child support is enough money that Dianne doesn’t qualify for some forms of government assistance, but she is in the process of applying for others. She is also applying for disability, but that’s going to take time and appeals. So, to make ends meet, she is also looking for part-time work.

Because cancer treatment leaves her immunosuppressed, and because of factors related to the chronic rare diseases, Dianne’s doctors don’t want her working in a public space. Remote work would be safest. She is needing something with flexible hours, because on her physically difficult days she can’t guarantee to be logged on between 8-5. She could complete projects to meet deadlines, but needs flexibility with hours. She also has several medical appointments per month, and would need grace for that. Any suggestions, referrals, or specific leads for this type of work would be helpful.

It is Dianne’s hope and goal, and that of her team of doctors, that over the next 6-12 months new treatments will stabilize her body and improve her quality of life to the point that she is able to work full time, with some precautions and accommodations, and continue to serve our communities in some capacity. She lives very modestly and is always looking for ways to cut medical costs; thankfully, she does have reasonably good health insurance. Hopefully after August the number of appointments (and therefore copays & travel costs) will be reduced somewhat, but out of pocket medical costs will still be around $800/month.

God has provided for this household so far and Dianne is confident that He will continue to, but she is also quickly coming to the point where current financial help will end before she is able to generate an adequate stream of income, and it’s getting scary. Last month, she had to choose between paying for groceries and paying for life-sustaining medication. Thankfully she had some extra non-perishable foods in the pantry, so she was able to choose the medication.

We are hoping to raise $30,000 to cover out of pocket medical expenses and basic living expenses over a twelve month transition period while Dianne undergoes treatment and until she is able to work full time. $15,000 would cover out of pocket medical expenses and basic living expenses for six months, while Dianne works to gain strength. (Even if she is able to find remote work during this time period, it will be part-time and there will be unpaid days off for medical treatment.) ANY amount will help to ensure that she is not without life-sustaining medications, can access needed care, and can maintain a medically safe living environment.

Her most immediate need is extra funds for May & June...She has more medically-related expenses than usual those two months because of out of town appointments & procedures that necessitate hotel stays and fuel for travel.

Thank you for considering this request to help this family. All donations will be sent directly to Dianne and applied first to medical costs, then to basic necessities of food and shelter. Any funds raised in excess of our goal will be applied to future medical costs, which will continue to be significant.