This is Mary Kay Crowder, a 79-year-old senior. I live alone, and no family (sadly my daughter/grown grandkids) are still estranged from me and refuse to even try to reunite our relationship. They even refused to help me and see me during my two-year neuroendocrine cancer journey and all of my surgical and medical complications.

I start my story first by saying -- besides having no daughter/family -- I think the saddest, most overwhelming, "scary" medical experience I have ever had is that I can no longer afford to pay for my health care. I no longer have money to pay for expensive medical copays. All of the extra money I had in 2023 and 2024 was spent on expensive copays during my two-year neuroendocrine cancer battle and so far in 2025 for doctor specialists, tests and treatment for my chronic health conditions. I'm blessed that I healed from this cancer in 2024, except for ongoing chronic medical complications as a result of surgical damages (permanently damaged ribs, Vagus nerve damage, neuropathic neuropathy, gastroparesis which caused malnutrition, intercostal nerve damage, intercostal muscle damage which caused muscle atrophy), chemo, and radiation which made some of those conditions worse.

(I have Medicare Advantage insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid).

In May 2025, I was shocked when I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer after 15 years had passed since my mastectomy. Mine is located in the left sacral bone and very treatable. I completed Radiation in August and currently taking cancer pills to suppress and kill any lingering breast cancer cells, if any. I had to pay Radiation co-pays and ongoing monthly payments for two expensive breast cancer pills. I will be on the pills a long time to keep metastatic breast cancer cells dormant. I'm thankful that it is currently stable, reduced in size and has not spread. I have an expensive co-pay for my November PET Scan. I cannot worry that it will later pop up in another location -- metastatic can do that. My oncologist and radiologist feel positive about my treatment outcome.

My reason to start this GoFundMe is to again resume the medical treatment I was receiving for the above-mentioned surgical damages, and other chronic health conditions (injections and nerve blocks for my degenerative lumbar spine (spinal stenosis, slipped/bulging discs, nerve root compression, spondylosis). I also have a bulging ventral hernia and transverse colon hernia that have ends looped around each other and might eventually need surgery. I have a new complication involving my kidneys and ureters (swollen and distended ureters and hernia in small intestine), and have to continue seeing my urologist and now a surgeon to determine if that hernia and distended ureters need surgical intervention.

I've had to postpone cataract surgery for a year and a half, my eyes have worsened, and I must have cataract surgery as soon as decisions are made regarding my chronic health conditions.

I will also be resuming neurology treatment (nerve stimulations) for my Vagus nerve damage, and other nerve damages throughout my body, and resume physical therapy specialists for my muscle atrophy, muscle and nerve conditions, neuropathy.

I have to continue seeing the following doctor specialists which cost co-pays: (1) Orthopedic Spine, (2) Orthopedic Ribs, (3) Orthopedic Foot/Ankle, (4) Pain Management for nerve blocks, (5) Hernia Surgeon for evaluation (and I'm praying no surgery required), (6) Urologist, (7) Gastroenterologist for ongoing Gastroparesis, (8) Neurologist for Vagus nerve damage, intercostal nerve damage, neuropathic and peripheral neuropathy, and (9) Eye Doctor.

Because of all of the above, my PTSD (which had gotten better) is now worse again because of so many medical conditions to treat and the anxiety and depression from not being able to afford multiple doctor specialists and treatments -- and I've been advised by my Primary Care doctor, Pastoral Care Minister and Home Healthcare Team to seek Counseling again which have co-pays for counseling therapist too.

I already have had to skip doctor and test appointments because of no money for the co-pays. For the appointments I was able to keep, I had to go on monthly payment plans, and that is declining my budget for rent, groceries, medicines, regular bills.

There was never enough Social Security to cover numerous medical co-pays for tests and doctors. Until a year and a half ago, I was able to make it ok because I still had some savings and money in my medical account . Since then, I have struggled with everything -- medical copays, tests, doctors, treatments, medicines, nutritional beverages, normal living expenses -- to the extent that I'm having to seek financial help.

In 2024, I seldom worked my travel agent job (which I have loved dearly for 18 years), lost a lot of clients (except a few close long-time clients) because I have been about 60% (and some days more) disabled/dysfunctional. I have had no quality of life for over a year and a half now.

I have walked this journey alone with no one to help me, except for dear God above who has been with me every day and night, comforted me, guided me, and blessed me during the most devastating, lonely, sad, and overwhelming time in my life.

I do not have money to pay all of my medical co-pays for all of the tests, treatments, doctors I need and am reaching out to you through GoFundMe for a small donation. I truly believe that if I get the medical help I need, I will still have some fun, productive, happy years left to enjoy more senior years. As my church Pastoral Care Minister has told me, "God isn't finished with you yet, He has plans for you to minister to other seniors" who are struggling with major health conditions, disabilities, and are alone like me, who need to be cared about -- and I have felt this calling from God for a long time -- I just have to get physically better so I can do it.

I would sincerely appreciate a $25.00 - $50.00 donation to my Go Fund Me, so I can move forward with all of my necessary medical care. I pray, and ask for your prayers, that with the medical care I need, I can have a beautiful quality of life again. Thank you from my heart in advance for your donation, and may God bless you.

Mary Kay Crowder