Elizabeth Coke Needs Help
Donation protected
My friend, Elizabeth, is seriously ill. She’s been in and out of hospitals since February and her husband has missed a significant amount of work in order to care for her and their six kids. Their bills have piled up to the point that they may lose their home. Their future is uncertain and they’re terrified.
Crowdfunding is a poor substitute for affordable health care but it’s the only way I know how to help. I’m asking you to please consider making a donation of any size to help Beth and her family. If you’re not able to donate, would you share this with your friends? Elizabeth’s needs are great. Keeping her and her family in their home is a good place to start. Thank you.
Here is some of Elizabeth's story:
MAY 16, 2018
For my friends that didn't know I have been struggling with abnormal uterine bleeding since last June that eventually put me in the hospital in February along with what they believe are inherited pulmonary embolisms or blood clots of the lungs. I met with a gynecologic oncologist today to find out if a hysterectomy would be a possibility to solve the bleeding, and much to my surprise after talking a bit and him looking at my case he said that it was his opinion and it wasn't something he said often, but I would not survive the surgery. We are trying to see if there are any other options to make life livable without having to risk my life. If you could keep up us in your thoughts and prayers it would be tremendously appreciated.
MAY 1, 2018
My health took a turn in February and what I thought was the flu ended up being bilateral pulmonary embolisms inherited from my mom's side of the family. That added to abnormal uterine bleeding then I've been going on for about eight nine months and things have been a hot mess. I've been in the hospital in and out really 6 weeks since February to now tomorrow I meet with a gynecologic oncologist to see about having my uterus taken out to try to stop this bleeding so keeping my fingers crossed.
But meanwhile life still goes on and all the time taken off because I wasn't here to take care of kids and everything else and we are a breath away from losing our house and we have nowhere to go all of our family is dead.
We're about I think $3,500 behind and I just got a nastygram from the mortgage company yesterday. Needless to say it's not the best of situations or state of mind going into a major surgery while on blood thinners, and to be blunt I'm terrified.
Did I mention our AC also is on the fritz? When it rains it pours.
Oh how I wish my own mama was here, she would know what to do or say. Losing my uterus at 41 is so damn scary, all this health stuff is, and on top of all the financials I am freaking mess. Any how, thanks for listening.
FEBRUARY 2018
As a mom of 6, when I began getting sick with what I thought was the flu I ignored it and put it on the back burner. Unfortunately, it got to the point where breathing became a full time job. I could ignore it no longer, so off I went to the closest hospital. After waiting for what felt like forever, the doctor finally returned and told me that I needed to be admitted into the hospital. I didn't have the flu. I had two pulmonary embolisms in my lungs and a DVT(describe what this is?) behind my left knee.
Did I mention that I have no health insurance?
Once in the hospital, I needed catheters inserted into both of my lungs to drip blood thinner directly onto the pulmonary embolisms to try to get rid of them. I was also given blood thinners twice daily via stomach injections until I was stable enough to switch to a medicine by mouth. Little did I know that the medicine by mouth costs over $500 for a one-month prescription.
After spending two weeks in the hospital, I was able to go home. Then, I had to figure out how to pay our mortgage. My husband had to take so much time off to watch the kids, money was exceptionally tight. (Do the kids really need electricity?)
Sadly my happiness at being home was short-lived. I ended up back in the hospital a few days later for yet another week.
The doctors didn't rea-lly have an explanation for what was happening to me. I just heard more of the same. "Try this medicine, let's see what it does. Let's make sure you're breathing into this machine. Let’s try this, etc."
When I told the doctors that I couldn't breathe long enough to go from the bedroom to the restroom at home, they seemed to laugh off my complaint. When I asked for an oxygen machine for those times I felt I might pass out just from returning from the restroom, it was deemed unnecessary. (Maybe mention something about feeling helpless - or whatever you felt/feel -here? About how things are uncertain in terms of your health, your ability to survive financially, and your ability to care for your family. )
As the bills poured in, I did some math. My medical care in the hospital cost $14 a minute. A minute. After 3 weeks in the hospital, I didn't have the heart to finish the math.
Hunter, my children's father, got a new job which covers his health insurance but not mine, and certainly not the children’s. Paying to insure our entire family would cost more than our mortgage.
It's a simple equation.
We can't afford it.
As I write this now, I'm in the hospital. Again. There is nothing I can do. I've sold everything of value. Hunter works as much as humanly possible but his heart is not the best without running himself into the grave since his heart's not the best. The big kids are doing everything they can but even as almost adults taking care of 3 special needs siblings is a lot to ask anyone.
When the shortness of breath started again I was devastated. I've been in the hospital now for 5 days. The bills are mounting. I miss my family. And I'm terrified.
(photo taken by her oldest child :))
Crowdfunding is a poor substitute for affordable health care but it’s the only way I know how to help. I’m asking you to please consider making a donation of any size to help Beth and her family. If you’re not able to donate, would you share this with your friends? Elizabeth’s needs are great. Keeping her and her family in their home is a good place to start. Thank you.
Here is some of Elizabeth's story:
MAY 16, 2018
For my friends that didn't know I have been struggling with abnormal uterine bleeding since last June that eventually put me in the hospital in February along with what they believe are inherited pulmonary embolisms or blood clots of the lungs. I met with a gynecologic oncologist today to find out if a hysterectomy would be a possibility to solve the bleeding, and much to my surprise after talking a bit and him looking at my case he said that it was his opinion and it wasn't something he said often, but I would not survive the surgery. We are trying to see if there are any other options to make life livable without having to risk my life. If you could keep up us in your thoughts and prayers it would be tremendously appreciated.
MAY 1, 2018
My health took a turn in February and what I thought was the flu ended up being bilateral pulmonary embolisms inherited from my mom's side of the family. That added to abnormal uterine bleeding then I've been going on for about eight nine months and things have been a hot mess. I've been in the hospital in and out really 6 weeks since February to now tomorrow I meet with a gynecologic oncologist to see about having my uterus taken out to try to stop this bleeding so keeping my fingers crossed.
But meanwhile life still goes on and all the time taken off because I wasn't here to take care of kids and everything else and we are a breath away from losing our house and we have nowhere to go all of our family is dead.
We're about I think $3,500 behind and I just got a nastygram from the mortgage company yesterday. Needless to say it's not the best of situations or state of mind going into a major surgery while on blood thinners, and to be blunt I'm terrified.
Did I mention our AC also is on the fritz? When it rains it pours.
Oh how I wish my own mama was here, she would know what to do or say. Losing my uterus at 41 is so damn scary, all this health stuff is, and on top of all the financials I am freaking mess. Any how, thanks for listening.
FEBRUARY 2018
As a mom of 6, when I began getting sick with what I thought was the flu I ignored it and put it on the back burner. Unfortunately, it got to the point where breathing became a full time job. I could ignore it no longer, so off I went to the closest hospital. After waiting for what felt like forever, the doctor finally returned and told me that I needed to be admitted into the hospital. I didn't have the flu. I had two pulmonary embolisms in my lungs and a DVT(describe what this is?) behind my left knee.
Did I mention that I have no health insurance?
Once in the hospital, I needed catheters inserted into both of my lungs to drip blood thinner directly onto the pulmonary embolisms to try to get rid of them. I was also given blood thinners twice daily via stomach injections until I was stable enough to switch to a medicine by mouth. Little did I know that the medicine by mouth costs over $500 for a one-month prescription.
After spending two weeks in the hospital, I was able to go home. Then, I had to figure out how to pay our mortgage. My husband had to take so much time off to watch the kids, money was exceptionally tight. (Do the kids really need electricity?)
Sadly my happiness at being home was short-lived. I ended up back in the hospital a few days later for yet another week.
The doctors didn't rea-lly have an explanation for what was happening to me. I just heard more of the same. "Try this medicine, let's see what it does. Let's make sure you're breathing into this machine. Let’s try this, etc."
When I told the doctors that I couldn't breathe long enough to go from the bedroom to the restroom at home, they seemed to laugh off my complaint. When I asked for an oxygen machine for those times I felt I might pass out just from returning from the restroom, it was deemed unnecessary. (Maybe mention something about feeling helpless - or whatever you felt/feel -here? About how things are uncertain in terms of your health, your ability to survive financially, and your ability to care for your family. )
As the bills poured in, I did some math. My medical care in the hospital cost $14 a minute. A minute. After 3 weeks in the hospital, I didn't have the heart to finish the math.
Hunter, my children's father, got a new job which covers his health insurance but not mine, and certainly not the children’s. Paying to insure our entire family would cost more than our mortgage.
It's a simple equation.
We can't afford it.
As I write this now, I'm in the hospital. Again. There is nothing I can do. I've sold everything of value. Hunter works as much as humanly possible but his heart is not the best without running himself into the grave since his heart's not the best. The big kids are doing everything they can but even as almost adults taking care of 3 special needs siblings is a lot to ask anyone.
When the shortness of breath started again I was devastated. I've been in the hospital now for 5 days. The bills are mounting. I miss my family. And I'm terrified.
(photo taken by her oldest child :))
Organizer
Cheri Britton Hartman
Organizer
Austin, TX