Sue's Cancer Treatment Fund
Donation protected
Nearly two months ago, my mother, Sue Shetina, was diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer, small-cell carcinoma. Her doctors located three masses: two in her lung proper and one under her collarbone. Surgery was not possible, but she has undergone radiation treatment five days a week and chemotherapy once a week since mid-May. So far, the prognosis is good, non-terminal, and she’s responding well to treatment. She is meant to receive chemo and radiation for another two weeks at least, with various appointments, scans, and follow-ups to come after.
Though my mother is a cancer survivor and has been ready for this fight since her first biopsy, the timing of this diagnosis has been especially hard to manage with the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is an essential worker, and before treatment began, she and her team of housekeepers at a local senior care facility were fighting to keep COVID at bay. However, now that she's sick, her doctors advised her to stay as far away from this pandemic as she can. Money is tight and though her employers have been very accommodating with FMLA, living expenses don’t wait for you to be well again. Until recently, she was the only person in her household with steady employment and is now facing an entirely new set of financial challenges with her treatment.
The current set of unpaid medical bills were due in mid-June and the next set are due at the beginning of July. The current total is $6,073.50... with much more to come. Although she has insurance, it’s still expensive and a lot to handle all at once. I’ve been quarantining with her and our family since March and am doing my best to care for her at home—stubborn and tough as she is—but we’re getting behind fast.
This fundraiser is meant to lighten the financial burden of treatment. It's been weighing on her almost as much, if not more than the physical toll of this process. We know so many people are in a similar situation right now re: money and there are many organizations and causes worthy of support, but any help you could give her right now, even if it seems small, would be greatly appreciated.
My mother is the hardest-working, most caring person I know. The worst thing about this for her seems to be that she can’t throw a big cookout for all the people she cares about or do all the summer yard work she inexplicably loves to do. I know she appreciates everyone who has reached out and wished her well. You’ve all let her know she’s not facing this alone.
Love,
Joe (& Sue)
Though my mother is a cancer survivor and has been ready for this fight since her first biopsy, the timing of this diagnosis has been especially hard to manage with the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is an essential worker, and before treatment began, she and her team of housekeepers at a local senior care facility were fighting to keep COVID at bay. However, now that she's sick, her doctors advised her to stay as far away from this pandemic as she can. Money is tight and though her employers have been very accommodating with FMLA, living expenses don’t wait for you to be well again. Until recently, she was the only person in her household with steady employment and is now facing an entirely new set of financial challenges with her treatment.
The current set of unpaid medical bills were due in mid-June and the next set are due at the beginning of July. The current total is $6,073.50... with much more to come. Although she has insurance, it’s still expensive and a lot to handle all at once. I’ve been quarantining with her and our family since March and am doing my best to care for her at home—stubborn and tough as she is—but we’re getting behind fast.
This fundraiser is meant to lighten the financial burden of treatment. It's been weighing on her almost as much, if not more than the physical toll of this process. We know so many people are in a similar situation right now re: money and there are many organizations and causes worthy of support, but any help you could give her right now, even if it seems small, would be greatly appreciated.
My mother is the hardest-working, most caring person I know. The worst thing about this for her seems to be that she can’t throw a big cookout for all the people she cares about or do all the summer yard work she inexplicably loves to do. I know she appreciates everyone who has reached out and wished her well. You’ve all let her know she’s not facing this alone.
Love,
Joe (& Sue)
Organizer and beneficiary
Joseph Shetina
Organizer
Joliet, IL
Susan Shetina
Beneficiary
