What Now

by Susan Hollingshead
(Westmoreland KS)

On August 12, 2009,one week before his 49th birthday, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of malignant cancer.

At the time he was working full time as a millwright. I was a stay at home grandma, watching the little ones while their parents work.

Following the diagnosis I immediately sought the advice of our attorney and a social worker. We filled out all of the recommended forms and paperwork for what little assistance was available to us.

We liquidated our our retirement fund, and other assets as we were advised by social services.

THEN our money, short term disability , health insurance and life insurance all ran out by the end of Dec 2009.

Keep in mind during those 5 months we also endured 4 rounds of chemotherapy, 28 radiation treatments, severel surgeries, resulting in 16 days in Critical Care in the hospital, and a trip to Houston TX.

Last Thursday the latest PET scan shows the cancer is mestaticizing.

When I went to our banker to discuss refinancing our mortgage to a lower interest rate , he said they couldnt help us with Jay being sick.

We sought out another lender, and are in the process of getting our $54,000.00 mortgage refinanced. I have applied for food stamps and TANF, and for help with our utility bills.

I am not working at this time, as my terminally ill husband needs me to care for him, and of course there are the grandkids, one of whom we are raising, she is 10.

I know that we are going to finalize the adoption of my granddaughter so that she will get social security from Jay after he is gone;.

I know that I need career counseling and schooling, so that I can pay our bills, and provide a home for our granddaughter.

I know that I have to hang on to the money I have set aside for a funeral.

I know that Jay will not live to see his dream of building our new home on our 10 acres.

I do not know how I am going to pay nearly $50,000 in medical expenses, but I do know that until that issue is resolved, the Cancer Center in Topeka KS will no longer treat him....... We applied for medicaid last September.

I am spending time every day on this computer, trying to find answers, help and financial assistance through gov't grants and programs.

We are not deadbeats, we have always worked and paid our way, we do not have credit cards or other debts, our car is 10 yrs old, just a mortgage, utilities, and the nightmare medical bills.

Is it fair that any family, tax payers, should loose their home due to a catastrophic illness ?

I know that we are not the only family in dire circumstances. Turn on the television anytime of the day or night to witness the plight of the middle class.

I stumbled upon this website by accident, its late at night, and my back is killing me, but perhaps this is divine intervention, perhaps someone who reads this can, or will pass it on to someone who can make a differance in our lives.

I thank you for your time and consideration , and if anyone wishes more information or documentation about anything I have said here I will gladly provide it

Susan Hollingshead
Westmoreland KS