DONATIONS/FUNDRAISING for MEDICAL TREATMENT

Recently, when the majority of my Lyme-related medical bills were denied payment, I was encouraged by a friend to start a donation page to help pay for my treatments. There is a "Donate" link at the top of my blog where you can pay via paypal or credit card. Thank you for considering this. If you prefer to donate by check, please email me at monamorphosis@gmail.com. I was hesitant to start a fund for myself as my friends have already done SO much for me through the past 3 years. My parents are too proud to ask and yet they have spent over $200,000 on my medical bills over the past three years (much of it on credit cards) ALONE.

This has resulted in massive medical debt. The cost of my out of pocket medical bills because of IV and all peripheral Lyme treatment is roughly $4,000-7,000 per month. My doctor's appointments alone are $350-450 and that is 1-2 times per month. That doesn't count other doctor's visits, health insurance premiums, holistic healers, supplements (required for detoxifying all the toxins from the treatment), etc. I've got at least another 8 months with my picc line (IV) in. The treatments are helping me make GREAT progress finally, but we have no way to pay $50,000 or so in out of pocket medical costs that will soon be incurred. As you can read in the Great Lyme Controversy page, there is rarely if ever insurance coverage of IV meds over 28 days for late-stage Lyme patients. In fact, I have been battling my insurer for over 7 MONTHS trying to just get 28 days covered!

My parents have exhausted ALL possible financial all resources including their retirement accounts. It was a very upsetting and difficult day when my father came home to tell me he had to cash out much of his hard-earned retirement money. My parents even considered selling the house but they would unfortunately lose money in this housing market.

I've spent exhausting months calling Blue Shield, fighting them, appealing my insurance denial of numerous medications, contacted other attorney friends for help, sent legal letters, even contacted national and local media outlets to do a story on the situation, but so far we are still in this position, and it has been an uphill battle and very overwhelming for a sick person to fight. All my energy goes into fighting these people but it should be spent on resting and getting well.

I know the economy is not in the best of shape. I do not ask you to give if you cannot. If you do have some resources, anything, even a small amount, and you want to and can give, I will be forever grateful. I never wanted it to come to this point where I had to ask for financial help. I thought this chapter of my life would be over by now, but unfortunately I was given a very long hard battle to fight on all fronts. I suppose it will just make me even more grateful for the other side of all of this.

It takes a lot of swallowing pride to ask for help. But it is the system that failed us (the medical system, health insurance system, etc.), and continues to fail so many other chronically ill people, not just Lyme patients. All of us have exhausted every possible option. It is unfortunate that the health insurance industry has failed so many people. I have already promised myself I will give free legal representation to as many sick people that I can in similar situations (once I am healthy again) and fight their legal battles for them so they can heal.

Because I am an individual, donations towards my medical treatment are unfortunately not tax-deductible. I have approached many non-profits for fiscal sponsorship (where they can accept donations on my behalf) but non-profits will not sponsor individuals (only projects). Again, thank you for taking the time to read this and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, for any help you can provide.

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." ~Albert Schweitzer