Yes, I’ve already posted today. Then I read a story on another blog, and I had to write this, too.
A while ago, I was reading Tertia’s blog and saw that she asked her legions of readers (around 2,000 a day) to help raise money for her nanny, Rose. Rose is a black woman living in South Africa, and for health reasons wanted to get breast reduction surgery. I am in no way commenting on the worthiness of Rose’s surgery, but I have to admit that I did raise my eyebrow – okay, I rolled my eyes. I’m happy that Rose has someone as influential as Tertia to help her, and it seems they raised enough to cover the $3000 or so required for the surgery.
Then I read a story about a 34 year old graduate student in in the United States whose husband has terminal liver cancer. Dean Dad mentioned her story on his blog, and I followed the links to Mary’s blog. Mary doesn’t know the grad student, who blogs under the name Badger, but has taken it upon herself to organize a Paypal account to help the struggling family with their overwhelming medical bills. I lifted this quote of Badger’s blog from Mary’s blog, and it broke my heart:
Here’s a quote from a Live Journal post she wrote last spring:
“Cost to date for surgery, CT-scans, hospital stays, doctors’ visits, and labwork: $79,000. Insurance benefit left for year: $21,000. Days left until new benefit year: 145. Response from Social Security Administration when I went down to their office with our 2004 tax returns to prove our lack of income: Priceless.
“There’s nothing I can do for you. Come back in two years.â€
Prognosis of someone with stage four liver cancer: 3 months.”Now, things are difficult because of the expense of the medication Mr. Badger needs for pain. Here’s another quote posted on her blog in July after a trip to the pharmacy to pick up a new, stronger prescription for morphine:
“Pharmacist: Oh, we didn’t fill the entire prescription. Your insurance company says you have reached the limit on your prescription benefit.
Badger: Oh!
Pharmacist: You would’ve had to have paid for the prescription out-of-pocket, which would’ve been over $400, so we’ve only given you a few pills.
Badger: Oh.”
Can you guess which fund I donated to?
Dani —
Thank you SO MUCH for letting your readers know about Badger and the cancer fund. Your reader network and mine are different, and I hope the extra exposure will help.
Canadians may not appreciate just how lucky they are to have the system they have. Badger’s story is horrifying and heartbreaking, but not all that rare.
Thank you to everyone who donates. At the very least, let’s help this man deal with the excruciating pain of his last days. And help Badger and her son avoid the bankruptcy that so cruelly attends illness in the U.S.
I, too, agreed that her situation just needs our support! I wish life and health weren’t so tied to money–it is so unfair.
So tragic. I heard about this elsewhere–I hope the blogosphere demonstrates its generosity.