My Mom’s Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
I am writing this with tears streaming down my face (literally). There's something about putting things down in words (written or typed) that make things so much more real. Lord hear my prayer and please help me write this. I am going to be open, honest, and candid about everything.....ok....here it goes... My mom was recently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. That in itself is hard to type! If you are familiar with lung cancer, you know this type of lung cancer is an especially scary diagnosis due to it being inoperable and very aggressive.
Up until a month or so ago, we were all on cloud 9 just enjoying having an amazing first baby in our lives. Adelynn was adopted as a newborn in April of 2019. Mom had just given in that she was never going to have her long-sought-after and prayed for, grandchild but I had never given up hope that I would someday be a daddy!! I said it was going to happen...someday, somehow!! So when it finally did happen....she was beside herself with joy. Adelynn quickly became her world!
She started babysitting for us weekly several months ago but started noticing she was a bit short of breath around Christmas. At first she thought it was just due to lack of exercise and Adelynn getting heavier. However, after a couple of months of increasing shortness of breath she became concerned and first was tested for COVID-19, which came back negative. So her doctor decided to do some bloodwork and run a CT-Scan. That is when a very large tumor was found. After a biopsy, it was confirmed as small cell carcinoma. It was found in her lymph node and upper lobe of her left lung. They also saw 3 spots on her liver that are very concerning. This cancer grows and spreads quickly!
So exactly WHY do we need help? Well, as you know healthcare is very expensive, even with insurance because co-pays and deductibles are high. Now, imagine facing this diagnosis with NO insurance and NO nest egg. Nothing to fall back on. You see, she lost her insurance last year when my dad went on medicare. It made her income too low to qualify for a credit through the Affordable Care Act but not low enough for TennCare. Her premium payments without the ACA credit was going to be over $1,000/month. Basically, she is caught in-between not having enough income but having too many assets. What are those assets, you might ask? Well it's just one asset. My dad inherited his parent's home when they passed away several years ago but my other set of grandparents are living there. Selling is not an option at the moment and you can't get TennCare (Medicaid) or even draw disability and own a home you don't live in. Soooo, as of right now, we are stuck. We're doing our very best to figure out the best way to move forward. We need help. We don't know if there will even be a way to move forward financially, as we don't know if there will ever be any type of assistance provided by the state at all.
We've already racked up the bills from the CT-Scan, the biopsy, the pulmonologist visits etc.... We are now facing a PET Scan and an MRI next week. A PET Scan alone is $6,000 (that's the cash price we will be required to pay without insurance). We've applied for financial assistance from the hospital but haven't heard back and have no guarantee. They actually denied even doing the scans at first because there was no insurance. We had to jump through hoops to get them to agree to do them. Once we get those scans we'll be able to see an oncologist and determine what treatment options are feasible and/or which ones we can afford. It pains me to even have to think there might be a treatment option out there to help my mom gain a few years but we can't consider it simply because we can't afford it! I am an only-child momma's boy and the thought of being in this world without her, just doesn't make sense to me. I MUST find a way to help her!!! Will you help me?
We are a very small family. She's not ready to give up. She not only wants to live for herself but also be here long enough to be with Adelynn if even for a few more years. We all want Adelynn to know and remember her. To say we are shell-shocked by this diagnosis would be an understatement. Would you please consider helping us? My mom was a caregiver for the elderly for years and has given so very much of herself to others. She doesn't like asking for or even receiving help, as she is the one that is usually doing the helping and giving. However, in this situation, we have no option but to ask.
Even if it's $5. Every little bit helps. Thank you for taking the time to even read this and for even considering helping us. Please share this so that others can consider it as well.
Please take a few moments and say a prayer for my precious momma and our little family!!
Up until a month or so ago, we were all on cloud 9 just enjoying having an amazing first baby in our lives. Adelynn was adopted as a newborn in April of 2019. Mom had just given in that she was never going to have her long-sought-after and prayed for, grandchild but I had never given up hope that I would someday be a daddy!! I said it was going to happen...someday, somehow!! So when it finally did happen....she was beside herself with joy. Adelynn quickly became her world!
She started babysitting for us weekly several months ago but started noticing she was a bit short of breath around Christmas. At first she thought it was just due to lack of exercise and Adelynn getting heavier. However, after a couple of months of increasing shortness of breath she became concerned and first was tested for COVID-19, which came back negative. So her doctor decided to do some bloodwork and run a CT-Scan. That is when a very large tumor was found. After a biopsy, it was confirmed as small cell carcinoma. It was found in her lymph node and upper lobe of her left lung. They also saw 3 spots on her liver that are very concerning. This cancer grows and spreads quickly!
So exactly WHY do we need help? Well, as you know healthcare is very expensive, even with insurance because co-pays and deductibles are high. Now, imagine facing this diagnosis with NO insurance and NO nest egg. Nothing to fall back on. You see, she lost her insurance last year when my dad went on medicare. It made her income too low to qualify for a credit through the Affordable Care Act but not low enough for TennCare. Her premium payments without the ACA credit was going to be over $1,000/month. Basically, she is caught in-between not having enough income but having too many assets. What are those assets, you might ask? Well it's just one asset. My dad inherited his parent's home when they passed away several years ago but my other set of grandparents are living there. Selling is not an option at the moment and you can't get TennCare (Medicaid) or even draw disability and own a home you don't live in. Soooo, as of right now, we are stuck. We're doing our very best to figure out the best way to move forward. We need help. We don't know if there will even be a way to move forward financially, as we don't know if there will ever be any type of assistance provided by the state at all.
We've already racked up the bills from the CT-Scan, the biopsy, the pulmonologist visits etc.... We are now facing a PET Scan and an MRI next week. A PET Scan alone is $6,000 (that's the cash price we will be required to pay without insurance). We've applied for financial assistance from the hospital but haven't heard back and have no guarantee. They actually denied even doing the scans at first because there was no insurance. We had to jump through hoops to get them to agree to do them. Once we get those scans we'll be able to see an oncologist and determine what treatment options are feasible and/or which ones we can afford. It pains me to even have to think there might be a treatment option out there to help my mom gain a few years but we can't consider it simply because we can't afford it! I am an only-child momma's boy and the thought of being in this world without her, just doesn't make sense to me. I MUST find a way to help her!!! Will you help me?
We are a very small family. She's not ready to give up. She not only wants to live for herself but also be here long enough to be with Adelynn if even for a few more years. We all want Adelynn to know and remember her. To say we are shell-shocked by this diagnosis would be an understatement. Would you please consider helping us? My mom was a caregiver for the elderly for years and has given so very much of herself to others. She doesn't like asking for or even receiving help, as she is the one that is usually doing the helping and giving. However, in this situation, we have no option but to ask.
Even if it's $5. Every little bit helps. Thank you for taking the time to even read this and for even considering helping us. Please share this so that others can consider it as well.
Please take a few moments and say a prayer for my precious momma and our little family!!
Organizer
Jason Warren
Organizer
Nolensville, TN