Help Gidget recover from Cancer
Donation protected
My beautiful, loving wife of 21 years, Abigail, aka “Gidget” was diagnosed with Stage 3 Bladder Cancer just over a month ago. A mother of 4 amazing children, self employed, hard working owner of strawberry stands, flower stands and several vintage clothing stores for 30 years, and a selfless contributor to her communities since the beginning of her time. I could write 10 books on how amazing she is, what she's done, what she's accomplished, what she has created etc, but she's not done yet. She has so many amazing years to live and so many things she still has planned and I want to make sure this happens, but she is now in need of financial help from the people who love her, know her, know of her, and anyone who is in a position to help, even the littlest bit.
Gidget has had an extremely long history of surgeries, beginning with experimental/exploratory surgeries of her urinary tract and just about all parts surrounding her bladder beginning at the delicate age of 18 months. She has had Uretal bypass, experimental urethra surgeries, a long history of UTI's, and done self-catheterizations on many occasions due to the complications in her bladder. Most have healed quickly, and all of that aside, has been in great health, as long as we've been together. It’s just that her bladder that has never worked as it should.
In March Gidget was admitted into UCLA Santa Monica for what we thought was another UTI w/hematuria (blood in urine). This wasn't the first time she had experienced this, and it really didn't seem to be too much of a concern. With proper medication (antibiotics), all should be expected to return to normal within a week or two, with a catheter in place to remove her blood/clots out of her bladder. She was sent home from the hospital with a semi positive outlook. 3 days later, she complained of severe pain in her bladder, and was sent to the ER UCLA again. Not even 2 hours after arriving at UCLA, she was abruptly informed she had what looked like Cancer. In shock and disbelief (both her and I), the standard battery of tests ensued and she was admitted for overnight stays at UCLA.
After 7 days of what felt like years, the specialists informed us it was indeed cancer, and bladder replacement surgery is now needed ASAP, as well as her female reproductive system needing to be removed.
Now, if you’ve ever gotten hospital bill, you can get an idea of how expensive these things can be. We are trying our best to sign up with a new Insurance company that will be accepted at Cedars-Siani, due to our recent cancellation of Medi-Cal insurance.
At this point, we have to pay a premium of approximately $7,000.00 to begin surgery, with an additional $900/month premium, as well as the previous bills from UCLA that Medi-Cal didn't cover. (We haven't received them all yet - just the doctor's fees - about $4000. We're still waiting for all of the previous hospital bills…)
We do not have this kind of money, and the emergency room bills are far beyond what we could have ever even imagined, but all we are asking for is to please help us get the deductible paid so she can get this surgery done before the cancer spreads to her lymph nodes. This is a dire situation that needs to happen as soon as possible. We do not want to lose her to this disease when we can stop this in its tracks - if we just get the money to give the insurance company. Gidget is a 55 year old beautiful, imaginative, loving, incredible woman and mother and she needs your help.
Please join us in supporting Gidget. Your generosity will help defray the cost of medical expenses, secure the proper medical insurance and help her to recover and come back to life - Cancer free!
Gidget has had an extremely long history of surgeries, beginning with experimental/exploratory surgeries of her urinary tract and just about all parts surrounding her bladder beginning at the delicate age of 18 months. She has had Uretal bypass, experimental urethra surgeries, a long history of UTI's, and done self-catheterizations on many occasions due to the complications in her bladder. Most have healed quickly, and all of that aside, has been in great health, as long as we've been together. It’s just that her bladder that has never worked as it should.
In March Gidget was admitted into UCLA Santa Monica for what we thought was another UTI w/hematuria (blood in urine). This wasn't the first time she had experienced this, and it really didn't seem to be too much of a concern. With proper medication (antibiotics), all should be expected to return to normal within a week or two, with a catheter in place to remove her blood/clots out of her bladder. She was sent home from the hospital with a semi positive outlook. 3 days later, she complained of severe pain in her bladder, and was sent to the ER UCLA again. Not even 2 hours after arriving at UCLA, she was abruptly informed she had what looked like Cancer. In shock and disbelief (both her and I), the standard battery of tests ensued and she was admitted for overnight stays at UCLA.
After 7 days of what felt like years, the specialists informed us it was indeed cancer, and bladder replacement surgery is now needed ASAP, as well as her female reproductive system needing to be removed.
Now, if you’ve ever gotten hospital bill, you can get an idea of how expensive these things can be. We are trying our best to sign up with a new Insurance company that will be accepted at Cedars-Siani, due to our recent cancellation of Medi-Cal insurance.
At this point, we have to pay a premium of approximately $7,000.00 to begin surgery, with an additional $900/month premium, as well as the previous bills from UCLA that Medi-Cal didn't cover. (We haven't received them all yet - just the doctor's fees - about $4000. We're still waiting for all of the previous hospital bills…)
We do not have this kind of money, and the emergency room bills are far beyond what we could have ever even imagined, but all we are asking for is to please help us get the deductible paid so she can get this surgery done before the cancer spreads to her lymph nodes. This is a dire situation that needs to happen as soon as possible. We do not want to lose her to this disease when we can stop this in its tracks - if we just get the money to give the insurance company. Gidget is a 55 year old beautiful, imaginative, loving, incredible woman and mother and she needs your help.
Please join us in supporting Gidget. Your generosity will help defray the cost of medical expenses, secure the proper medical insurance and help her to recover and come back to life - Cancer free!
Organizer
Abigail Zapata
Organizer
Topanga, CA
