Hello, my name is Brenda Howell and I am writing on behalf of my 28 year old daughter, Cassie.  Cassie has insulin dependant (or Type 1) diabetes and was diagnosed at age 11.  During the past year Cassie has went through multiple surgeries and hospital stays due to the many problems she is having with this disease.  Without detailing  each one , it has finally come to the point where she has recently had a portion of her left foot amputated and is still dealing with daily bouts of fever, pain, infection, etc and has been for the past year.  She is currently undergoing hyperbaric treatments 5 days a week for 2 hours each day and is having to have daily dressings of her wounds.  This is done at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga which is approximately 35 miles from our home. 
Cassie obtained her Bachelors Degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga but is now disabled and lives with us, her parents, due to her mounting medical bills.  We have been so blessed to have help from friends and our church concerning a ramp at our house and an electric wheelchair at home to get around in.  She has to sleep in the dining room because our house has only one bedroom downstairs and two upstairs which of course she cannot get to.    The main problem is that we are starting to drown in medical bills and if her insurance decides that they will not continue her hyperbaric treatments, which is very possible, we will not possibly be able to continue them.  This may be the only hope she has of not having other amputations.  She is also on multiple medicines that are required to keep her infection under control.  Not doing this could endanger her life and this is simply something we cannot accept at this time. 
We own our own business and my husband is driving an 18 wheeler in order for us to try and continue her full medical regiment.  We can no longer keep up with the mounting bills that are coming in to continue all aspects of her treatment.  Doing this is one of the hardest things we have ever had to ask, but pride takes a back seat when your child is battling a life threatening disease even if she is 28 years old.  We have prayed about this and know that God is in control and our faith is in Him.  We fully understand if you cannot help and hope that you will remember her in your daily prayers as she continues this journey.  Thank you.