Fund Mark Lauterbach: Rebuilding Health and Hope
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Support Mark Lauterbach's Journey: Confronting Medical Challenges with Courage and Resilience!
This is a fundraiser for an amazing person who needs time to apply for disability benefits and deal with medical expenses related to cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), and COVID. Please consider donating. While Mark has been able to support himself for years, his MS has progressed and his life may never be the same.
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A Beacon of Hope for a Gracious and Kind Person
Have you ever experienced someone who uplifted your spirits and made you believe in yourself, even in the most challenging times? Now, imagine ensuring that this extraordinary person can continue to inspire others for many more decades. By contributing to this campaign, you can make that happen.
Our GoFundMe initiative aims to be a ray of hope for Mark Lauterbach, a selfless individual who is in need of support to regain his footing. Having triumphed over cancer and battled various other medical issues, Mark has silently faced his struggles while devoting his energy to helping countless others. However, he has reached a critical juncture, and with just a little assistance, he can get back on his feet.
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The Remarkable Journey of Mark Lauterbach
Imagine enduring a two-year quarantine due to medical issues—living alone, fighting cancer, and coping with multiple sclerosis (MS). This is the reality Mark has confronted with unwavering positivity. He is an individual who radiates hope, having undergone personal growth and developed remarkable resilience.
Mark's impact on people's lives is immeasurable. During a period of profound self-doubt in my own life, Mark provided me with hope and confidence when I felt like an imposter with an uncertain future. Previously holding the position of Chief Procurement Officer at a prestigious company, Mark willingly relinquished the extravagant corporate lifestyle, realizing that his true purpose was helping others from a place of empathy, rather than from an ivory tower.
Mark has spent the last several years offering job search coaching at very low prices while supplementing his income with supply chain consulting.
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The Compounded Medical Challenges
Mark's journey has been further complicated by the intertwining of various medical issues:
- Cancer: Mark valiantly fought against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, for three and a half years. While he emerged victorious as of early 2023, the battle took a substantial toll.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): For the past seven years, Mark has grappled with this incurable condition. Its cause remains unknown, making it an expensive illness to treat. Continuous treatment is vital to halt the progression of MS, but each relapse exacerbates his condition. Mark has defied the odds, demonstrating significant improvement in response to treatment. However, if he were to fall into poverty and rely solely on Medicaid, his condition would rapidly deteriorate.
- COVID: Both MS and cancer significantly weakened Mark's immune system. Despite leading an isolated life for over a year and a half, he spent ten days in the hospital battling COVID, requiring a ventilator and months of occupational therapy. Consequently, he faced a prolonged period of reduced income and mounting expenses for insurance and healthcare providers.
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The Financial Struggle, Despite "Great" Insurance
You may be unaware that Mark has spent several years relying on food banks and minimizing expenses wherever possible. He is currently in the process of selling whatever he can. On an ongoing basis, he must cover the following expenses:
- Cancer: Regular assessments every three months, including MRI scans ($750 copay), PET scans ($1,250 copay), and other testing ranging from $50 to $2,250 per copay.
- MS: Biannual infusions of a $90,000 drug, with out-of-pocket costs exceeding $10,000 each time.
- COVID: Visits to a pulmonologist every six months, with a $2,500 copay, along with various testing such as lung and heart scans ($750 to $6.5K copays). Additionally, speech and occupational therapy sessions require copays ranging from $900 to $7,000, depending on the testing and treatment involved.
Despite spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain his health, Mark has prioritized spending quality time with his children and grandson, while continuing to positively impact as many lives as possible.
Fundraising Goal and Your Impact
Fundraising Goal: $48,575
Your Contribution Will:
- Assist Mark in settling his current medical bills.
- Provide funds for upcoming medical copays and expenses.
- Support three to nine months of basic living expenses, allowing Mark to focus on:
- Applying for Social Security Disability and navigating the approval process (takes 3 to 9 months)
- Identifying and securing additional government support and Foundation Grants.
- Charting a sustainable career path considering his current medical condition.
Mark has touched and transformed the lives of numerous individuals. Imagine the collective impact if each of us, regardless of our personal connection with Mark, contributes even a small amount. Together, we can profoundly touch and transform his life. Mark needs a supportive community to rally around him, and we invite you to be part of this journey, making a meaningful difference.
Please join us in supporting Mark Lauterbach—a testament to the power of compassion and resilience.
Fundraising team: Mark's Journey Champions (3)
Mitchel Forney
Organizer
Fort Collins, CO
Mark Lauterbach
Beneficiary
Gurbhinder Brar
Team member
Mark Lauterbach
Team member