For my mom's recovery- Lynda Brooks
Donation protected
Dear friends, family, and other supporters,
This GoFundMe campaign is for my beautiful mother, Lynda Brooks.
On March 9, she was diagnosed with melanoma after having five suspicious spots removed during a February procedure. Immediate removal of the marginal tissue surrounding the melanoma and suspicious spots was ordered. She had the surgery back in April, which removed the suspicious tissue in addition to the sentinel node. She requires additional procedures to remove other spots to test if they, too, are malignant.
Blood tests during this process revealed an iron deficiency and she was diagnosed with severe anemia. My mom is now being treated for that with a series of IV iron injections and has a surgical procedure coming up to prevent further loss of iron.
During all of this, she experienced several fainting spells. A CT scan was ordered and she was referred to a neurologist and cardiologist. The cardiologist diagnosed her with neurocardogenic syncope but other than that an echocardiogram confirmed she has a strong, healthy heart. The neurologist ordered an MRI and confirmed a 2.5cm tumor on the right parietal lobe. The tumor is benign, thank goodness, but has to be monitored every six months with an MRI, as this is something that runs in our family. A biopsy of other tissue is being done in early June to see if it will help determine what type of tumor it is.
Finding all this out, countless doctors visits, tests, procedures, and missed time from work is stressful enough but on top of that now she is left with mounting doctors’ and hospital bills while continuing treatment and trying to heal. Like so many other middle class Americans, my mom falls in the gap between qualifying for Medicaid and being able to afford ACA/Obamacare. Optionless, my mom applied for health insurance through ACA/Obamacare and was accepted with preexisting conditions as a special exception. With the help of her employer, she has had three months of insurance premiums paid. When the three months are over at the end of June, she will not be able to afford additional health insurance premiums, even if her treatments are incomplete. Everything is just adding up so quickly. Her initial procedure took place before she had insurance. She also has co-pays, office visits, co-insurance, tests not covered by insurance, and a deductible to meet. This, plus lost time from work and traveling costs, is more than overwhelming. It amazes me how despite all these issues my mom has remained incredibly positive, and at the same time it breaks my heart knowing that these medical bills are causing her stress (especially since stress inhibits the body from healing!).
The funds from this campaign will go to my mother, Lynda Brooks, to help cover her medical expenses, travel expenses, and time she has missed from work. They will be helping a woman who herself given so much of her time and energy to helping others and her community. Any donation or message of encouragement will be appreciated more than you know. Please join me in helping my mom during this difficult time. She has remained so private about everything she is going through but I would love to remind her that she doesn’t have to go through this alone. THANK YOU <3
This GoFundMe campaign is for my beautiful mother, Lynda Brooks.
On March 9, she was diagnosed with melanoma after having five suspicious spots removed during a February procedure. Immediate removal of the marginal tissue surrounding the melanoma and suspicious spots was ordered. She had the surgery back in April, which removed the suspicious tissue in addition to the sentinel node. She requires additional procedures to remove other spots to test if they, too, are malignant.
Blood tests during this process revealed an iron deficiency and she was diagnosed with severe anemia. My mom is now being treated for that with a series of IV iron injections and has a surgical procedure coming up to prevent further loss of iron.
During all of this, she experienced several fainting spells. A CT scan was ordered and she was referred to a neurologist and cardiologist. The cardiologist diagnosed her with neurocardogenic syncope but other than that an echocardiogram confirmed she has a strong, healthy heart. The neurologist ordered an MRI and confirmed a 2.5cm tumor on the right parietal lobe. The tumor is benign, thank goodness, but has to be monitored every six months with an MRI, as this is something that runs in our family. A biopsy of other tissue is being done in early June to see if it will help determine what type of tumor it is.
Finding all this out, countless doctors visits, tests, procedures, and missed time from work is stressful enough but on top of that now she is left with mounting doctors’ and hospital bills while continuing treatment and trying to heal. Like so many other middle class Americans, my mom falls in the gap between qualifying for Medicaid and being able to afford ACA/Obamacare. Optionless, my mom applied for health insurance through ACA/Obamacare and was accepted with preexisting conditions as a special exception. With the help of her employer, she has had three months of insurance premiums paid. When the three months are over at the end of June, she will not be able to afford additional health insurance premiums, even if her treatments are incomplete. Everything is just adding up so quickly. Her initial procedure took place before she had insurance. She also has co-pays, office visits, co-insurance, tests not covered by insurance, and a deductible to meet. This, plus lost time from work and traveling costs, is more than overwhelming. It amazes me how despite all these issues my mom has remained incredibly positive, and at the same time it breaks my heart knowing that these medical bills are causing her stress (especially since stress inhibits the body from healing!).
The funds from this campaign will go to my mother, Lynda Brooks, to help cover her medical expenses, travel expenses, and time she has missed from work. They will be helping a woman who herself given so much of her time and energy to helping others and her community. Any donation or message of encouragement will be appreciated more than you know. Please join me in helping my mom during this difficult time. She has remained so private about everything she is going through but I would love to remind her that she doesn’t have to go through this alone. THANK YOU <3
Organizer and beneficiary
Hanna Blanchette
Organizer
New York, NY
Lynda Brooks
Beneficiary