I am a single mom of two who was recently diagnosed with borderline invasive melanoma. Getting this diagnosis when I was already barely making ends meet and getting a pay cut in May has been mentally and financially stressful beyond belief. I am pushing 70 hours a week working to pay bills and do little things for my girls. I don’t have time to deal with this cancer stuff but I have to before it becomes a problem I can’t fix.

The first appointment set me back $381, and $40-50 in lost income. I have since gotten a $416 pathology bill, another $20 in lost income, and now will be losing almost whole days to drive 3 hours round trip to see a surgical oncologist. It is likely that a minor amputation will be the treatment which will certainly make it very difficult and painful to work in the short term (I still plan on working next day, I hope..)

I was approved for charity care through the hospital system which is a huge weight of my shoulders. But that only covers the surgical side. I’m already down just over $1,000 thus far and I know that number will climb with co-pays, travel gas, possible lodging if I can’t drive after surgery, medications, and most of all, loss of income.

I have my consultation Friday, 9/5, and after that I will have to wait for treatment until I have raised a decent amount of funds to pay our normal bills. I deeply appreciate even a single dollar of help during this incredibly stressful time, and hope that I can take care of this before it becomes invasive.