Mom's Medical Bills
Donation protected
Hi Everyone,
A few months ago, my mother relapsed from her cancer (multiple myeloma). Her specific type of cancer is called Amyloidosis, and unfortunately, there is no cure.
Amyloidosis is caused by a bone marrow disorder. Her bone marrow produces plasma cells in the blood which in turn create these abnormal antibody proteins. These abnormal proteins are called amyloids. The amyloids then deposit in and around tissues, nerves, and organs, causing damage and affecting each organ's function.
She was first diagnosed a little over ten years ago while I was in high school. She underwent aggressive treatment, which included high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and even the removal of some of her organs. She was in remission for ten years until her Amyloidosis decided to come back at a most imperfect time. Living and working in Hawaii on her own, with her closest family (me) in California, she started chemotherapy at the end of June with the idea that she'd still be able to work, at least part time. That turned out to just be wishful thinking. At first she did go into work when she felt up to it but after several chemo treatments her side effects were just too much to bare. Sometimes it got so bad that she had to go to the emergency room. Her latest visit to the emergency room was October 23rd and even when she insisited that she didn't want to be discharged, the hospital did anyway. This trip to the emergency room is what caused me to rush out to Hawaii. I was on a plane the next day to go out and help take care of her. While I was en route, she got up to use the restroom and felt dizzy. She ended up falling and the handle of her walker jammed into her eye, resulting in a very gruesome black eye with multiple bruises.
My mom's been out of work for months and I don't make nearly enough money to help alleviate any of this stress. There are other miscellaneous expenses not covered by insurance, groceries, Ubers to and from her appointments, or even a walker because she has very limited mobility. Her insurance doesn't even cover the cost of transportation to her medical appointments or even meals on wheels and believe me, we tried every route we could to find local support but unfortunately the medical community in Hawaii is very different than the support she had in California. Now as I'm sure you can imagine, the medical bills are coming in. Yes, her insurance covers part of her treatment but chemotherapy, and emergency room visits are not cheap. Those of you who know me and my family, know that we wouldn't ask for any help if we didn't truly need it.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read & share this post.
-Leandra Gramigna
A few months ago, my mother relapsed from her cancer (multiple myeloma). Her specific type of cancer is called Amyloidosis, and unfortunately, there is no cure.
Amyloidosis is caused by a bone marrow disorder. Her bone marrow produces plasma cells in the blood which in turn create these abnormal antibody proteins. These abnormal proteins are called amyloids. The amyloids then deposit in and around tissues, nerves, and organs, causing damage and affecting each organ's function.
She was first diagnosed a little over ten years ago while I was in high school. She underwent aggressive treatment, which included high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and even the removal of some of her organs. She was in remission for ten years until her Amyloidosis decided to come back at a most imperfect time. Living and working in Hawaii on her own, with her closest family (me) in California, she started chemotherapy at the end of June with the idea that she'd still be able to work, at least part time. That turned out to just be wishful thinking. At first she did go into work when she felt up to it but after several chemo treatments her side effects were just too much to bare. Sometimes it got so bad that she had to go to the emergency room. Her latest visit to the emergency room was October 23rd and even when she insisited that she didn't want to be discharged, the hospital did anyway. This trip to the emergency room is what caused me to rush out to Hawaii. I was on a plane the next day to go out and help take care of her. While I was en route, she got up to use the restroom and felt dizzy. She ended up falling and the handle of her walker jammed into her eye, resulting in a very gruesome black eye with multiple bruises.
My mom's been out of work for months and I don't make nearly enough money to help alleviate any of this stress. There are other miscellaneous expenses not covered by insurance, groceries, Ubers to and from her appointments, or even a walker because she has very limited mobility. Her insurance doesn't even cover the cost of transportation to her medical appointments or even meals on wheels and believe me, we tried every route we could to find local support but unfortunately the medical community in Hawaii is very different than the support she had in California. Now as I'm sure you can imagine, the medical bills are coming in. Yes, her insurance covers part of her treatment but chemotherapy, and emergency room visits are not cheap. Those of you who know me and my family, know that we wouldn't ask for any help if we didn't truly need it.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read & share this post.
-Leandra Gramigna
Organizer
Leandra Gramigna
Organizer
Moreno Valley, CA