How To Finance Neuropathy And Other Medical Treatment (Personal Story)

Today's post from northwestgeorgianews.com (see link below) illustrates the problems many people have, especially in the US, with funding their illness. The costs of treatment and medication are of course artificially linked to so-called 'market forces' and therefore are often at the whim of profit-seeking medical companies and the pharmaceutical industry. If you're adequately insured, the bills don't affect you but if not, your recovery is severely tested through medical costs and demands. Many people find that they just can't meet those costs, especially if their illness turns out to be more complex or long-term. The family in this article (dealing with cancer and resulting neuropathy) turned to crowd-funding for help but it has to be a very bad turn of affairs, when the state cannot ensure that its citizens get the best possible care without it making them bankrupt. Most Europeans are universally insured (they don't have a choice) and many Americans are not. Unfortunately, thanks to financial strictures, many European health authorities are turning to a more American model but at least things are slowly changing for the better in the US.

Family starts GoFundMe account after dad stricken with cancer
 By Tonia Davis Staff Writer TDavis@calhountimes.com Posted: Friday, January 2, 2015 9:21 am | Updated: 12:12 pm, Fri Jan 2, 2015.

Bruce Taylor, who has cancer, asked his wife, Pam, to shave his head after he underwent chemotherapy treatments, which caused his hair to rapidly fall out.
Family starts GoFundMe fundraiser after dad stricken with cancer
 
Bruce Taylor, a 38-year-old native of Calhoun, has been a well known diesel mechanic with Shaw Industries for 16 years. He has taught Sunday School to seventh- and eighth-grade boys at Bethesda Baptist Church, been an active member of his community, and has a shop behind his house where he works on vehicles for friends and family. Unfourtunatly, Bruce has had to give up his hobbies, take medical leave from his job and focus on his health.

In July 2014, Bruce was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent surgery to remove the cancer, and the surgeon realized Bruce was facing more than one cancerous cist. During recovery from the surgery, while discussing his treatment options, it was discovered that his kidneys were not strong enough to immediately proceed with chemotherapy, leaving his body defensless against the aggressive cancer.

After months of stregthening his kidneys, Taylor was able to finish the last of his chemotherapy treatments during the holidays. Doctors hoped to do a positron emission tomography or P.E.T. scan to check his body for any signs of cancerous cells soon before Christmas, but, after doing blood work, the doctors concluded that his blood was no longer healthy enough for the additive required for the scan.

The family did not get good news for Christmas; instead, they recieved no news of whether Bruce was free of cancer after the sickening rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions and countless medical bills.

The seasoned mechanic now suffers from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, damage to the nerves that carry sensations to the hands and feet caused by the chemicals in chemotherapy drugs, and is on his seventh round of antibiotics trying to fight off continous blood infections with a weakened immune system.

“I know more about cancer now than I ever wanted to,” said Bruce’s wife, Pam, while describing her husbands recent medical history. She expressed concern about the new year beginning soon and how it means new deductibles to meet and more medical bills around the corner. She estimated that their medical bills are now well over $50,000 and are slowly being turned over to collections companies as months continue to go by without any changes in income, any financial leniencies or any developments in her husbands health.

The family says that the members of Bethesda Baptist Church have been a blessing to them; they have provided meals and have helped them with two mortgage payments at a desperate time in their lives.

“We are a family who has had to swallow our pride and admit that we need help,” said Pam. “We would use any donations to pay medical bills, help make our house payments, provide for our children and just to try to keep our heads above water. We appreciate donations from the bottom of our hearts; we’re very appreciative of people who are willing to help us. When we get back on our feet, we will most certainly be paying it forward.”

Bruce’s sister-in-law has set up a GoFundMe.com account to help the family collect donations for use in paying medical bills and day-to-day expenses.

Visit www.gofundme.com/brucetalor-ga to make donations to the family.

 http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/calhoun_times/family-starts-gofundme-account-after-dad-stricken-with-cancer/article_8f5a15bc-928a-11e4-ba85-137143d01d61.html