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Lifting up Lisa

Hi, this is my amazing friend Lisa.  She and I grew up together singing in the church choir. We are very close, just like family, which is why I am reaching out to you.  My sister needs your help.  To see her beautiful smile, you would never know the battles she has faced and continues to face. For behind her smile is a strong, courageous, praying woman, who fights harder than anyone I know.  But sometimes even the strongest person can reach their limit and need help. 

Just 8 days before Christmas Lisa woke up on payday and like many of us, checked her bank account hoping to maybe find something extra or at least her normal pay, but no, this day, she woke up to find that her check had been reduced to only $261!  The error that led to this gross mistake was found, however, there was nothing that could be done.  The problem was fixed moving forward but the mistake made on this paycheck could not be reversed.  They had applied a second garnishment to Lisa’s check, a garnishment resulting from more medical bills.

This comes just 3 months after receiving devastating news from her oncologist that her current chemo treatment was no longer working and they were running out of treatment options.  So this Christmas was to be extra special.

Here is the back story:

In 2011, a mass was discovered on Lisa’s right ovary.  It would later be diagnosed as Stage 3 High-Grade Serous Carcinoma of the ovary, Ovarian Cancer.  She fought back. She had major surgery followed by months of chemo.  But by the summer of 2012, she was ringing the bell.  She won!  Chemo was done and she was cancer free. 

On Mother’s Day 2015, she felt a sharp pain in her left groin area.  When she felt the area, she discovered a lump.  The cancer was back.   On August 21st, they were ready to do what was supposed to be a simple surgery requiring only one night in the hospital.  She was told she could return to work on Monday.  However, after the surgery, the recovery time at home would take 6 weeks!  She was not prepared for that. To make matters worse, the next day, her first day home, she receives a certified letter, her husband of 25 years, who handled the family’s finances, had filed for divorce and she was being served. This is where her finances fell apart.

But did I mention she is strong?  For the next 3 years, she tried to hold things together.  She found the strength to open up to her adult children about their current financial situation their Dad had left them in.  He had not been paying the bills, everything was behind including the mortgage.  Her wonderful children stepped up and came up with a plan to work together to get things back on track.  

While all this was going on, she continued to fight her cancer with a new holistic approach and was winning.  Doctors said she was improving, but the price would be steep.  Holistic treatment is not covered by insurance. However, she had to do something different, the chemo was hard on her body and each time the cancer would return.  Maybe this would be the answer. Holistic was good for her body. She had removed all foods and products that had harmful toxins. She had never looked stronger or healthier. Despite using all her reserve money to stay afloat, including nearly $20,000 from her 401K, it would not be enough to continue the holistic treatments that had brought such positive results.  Eventually, she would have to go back to chemo.

The bottom falls out in April of 2019 when it is determined that she needs surgery again.  She would be off work for 6 weeks receiving 60% of her pay.  Then before she could recover from that income deficit, she would be hospitalized again in June for a bacterial infection, 2 weeks off at 60% of her pay.  And in September, they started her on a new chemo drug that destroyed her white blood cells and had her battling for her life in the hospital for 18 days, at 60% of her pay.  Her financial situation was on life support.  Bill collectors were calling but now in addition to being out of money she was physically tired and emotionally drained.  She was mounting medical debt faster than she could pay it down. 

Then 2020 comes, she fights through COVID as she continues her chemo treatments until October when her oncologist tells her the chemo is no longer working.  The cancer which had been shrinking is now growing again.  And, they have exhausted all known chemo treatments for this type of cancer except one, and it was not very promising.  The doctor was going to seek out clinical trials. That news knocked the wind out of her, but with her faith, family, and friends she got back up and continued fighting.  Now, when she is in the final preparations for Christmas, she receives yet another devastating blow, a paycheck for $261.   

But you would never know her struggles because all you would see is this beautiful smile.  She would continue to go to work, be the awesome Gigi (Grandmother) to her amazing grandbabies, and find time to spend with her family and friends.


Here is where you can help:

We want to raise enough money to pay off Lisa’s garnishments which are hospital bills totaling $10,361.  Removing this debt will allow her to use all her energy to fight this cancer instead of worrying about how to make ends meet. Lisa has outlived the average person with this type of cancer by 4 years! She knows this is a blessing.  But she wants more, she wants to BEAT THIS!  With your help, we can ease her financial burden and help her win. Please consider donating today! Thank you.
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  • Anonym
    • $10 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonym
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Di Ferrell
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs
  • Kierstyn Roberts
    • $200 
    • 3 yrs
  • Colette Mosley
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
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Organisator und Spendenbegünstigter

Aleatha Henderson
Organisator
Lakeside, IN
Lisa Gill
Spendenbegünstigte

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