Shelly Baggett's Med Exp Phase I
Donation protected
On September 2, 2015, my dear friend Shelly (Rooke) Baggett was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, two forms of breast cancer (one very aggressive), requiring powerful chemo therapy treatment, a mastectomy, radiation and other therapies and after all that her prognosis was only 50/50 survival. As life changing as that was to hear for this single mother with 3 fine sons, the kick in the gut was to learn that her health insurance WILL NOT PAY FOR CHEMO THERAPY DRUGS or some of the necessary treatments.
With only enough in savings to pay for one of her 8 required chemo treatments needed, we all immediately went to our knees and asked everyone we knew to pray. But that is not the end of this story, as you will see.
Her forms of breast cancer are ductal carcinoma and Estrogen Receptor Positive (aggressive), both of which are now in the lymph nodes. Shelly’s course of treatment was 8 Cycles (every 2 weeks) of Adriamycin & Cytoxan (slows the growth of cancer cells) followed by the Neulasta shot (stimulates the growth of white blood cells and reduces infection in me as the chemo affects my bone marrow.)
Then she will have chemotherapy for 12 cycles/weeks of Taxol (which targets fast dividing cancer cells) followed by a bilateral mastectomy scheduled for March 2016 followed by radiation and hormonal therapy.
Her health insurance covered the CT scan, mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, surgery for lymph biopsy and the chemo port to be placed in my chest BUT IT WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE CHEMOTHERAPY MEDICATIONS.
Although the cancer clinic has applied to several Assistance Drug Replacement Programs for Shelly, they have only been able to have the cost of 2 of the Anti-Nausea medications ($467.87) and the Neulasta Shot ($3,704) covered, the rest of the chemotherapy medications and the administration of the medications is all Shelly’s financial responsibility. The clinic has exhausted every avenue on her behalf. She is now considered a ‘self-pay’ patient and is responsible for the rest of the cost of the chemo therapy medications which currently is $947.36 for each treatment plus the co-pays for treatment which range from $15 to $400 dollars depending on the procedure required. As a last resort, Shelly is reaching out to her family and friends and I have asked her to let me set up this fund to help her (Money from strangers) to help her cover the rest of her chemotherapy and other treatments.
A month after we all prayed for Shelly, she had a follow up visit with the Oncologist who revealed her cancer was Stage 3 and he reduced the initial chemo treatments to 4 instead of 8, and he gave her the news “We are going to cure you of this cancer.” This was an answer to prayer. As much as this revised prognosis was a fresh breath of air, her treatment was just out of reach with no money to cover the treatments required.
Again we all went to our knees and asked God’s guidance and wisdom on how to proceed. Later, I asked Shelly, “Can I set up a GoFundMe site to help with your expenses?” For a short time I had to keep her name private as we asked for prayer because she had not told all her family. Likewise, I had to wait to set up the GoFundMe account for the same reason. But now it is a go.
Shelly has now had her second chemo treatment and has experienced the common hair loss, as so many breast cancer survivors can attest, so she has shaved her head. The 14 days between treatments give her 9-10 good days so she hangs on to those good days and continues to work and support herself.
Already it seems that God has answered her prayers in reducing the bleakness of her prognosis and the number of chemo treatments she must take prior to surgery. So today, we are asking for your help for Shelly Baggett.
If your heart is touched, please consider giving a few dollars to help her cover her treatment and co-pays. She asks for nothing for living expenses, only for help as she battles this dreadful disease at this difficult time in her life. Please remember that if you cannot give any money, please lift prayers for Shelly’s continued healing.
With only enough in savings to pay for one of her 8 required chemo treatments needed, we all immediately went to our knees and asked everyone we knew to pray. But that is not the end of this story, as you will see.
Her forms of breast cancer are ductal carcinoma and Estrogen Receptor Positive (aggressive), both of which are now in the lymph nodes. Shelly’s course of treatment was 8 Cycles (every 2 weeks) of Adriamycin & Cytoxan (slows the growth of cancer cells) followed by the Neulasta shot (stimulates the growth of white blood cells and reduces infection in me as the chemo affects my bone marrow.)
Then she will have chemotherapy for 12 cycles/weeks of Taxol (which targets fast dividing cancer cells) followed by a bilateral mastectomy scheduled for March 2016 followed by radiation and hormonal therapy.
Her health insurance covered the CT scan, mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, surgery for lymph biopsy and the chemo port to be placed in my chest BUT IT WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE CHEMOTHERAPY MEDICATIONS.
Although the cancer clinic has applied to several Assistance Drug Replacement Programs for Shelly, they have only been able to have the cost of 2 of the Anti-Nausea medications ($467.87) and the Neulasta Shot ($3,704) covered, the rest of the chemotherapy medications and the administration of the medications is all Shelly’s financial responsibility. The clinic has exhausted every avenue on her behalf. She is now considered a ‘self-pay’ patient and is responsible for the rest of the cost of the chemo therapy medications which currently is $947.36 for each treatment plus the co-pays for treatment which range from $15 to $400 dollars depending on the procedure required. As a last resort, Shelly is reaching out to her family and friends and I have asked her to let me set up this fund to help her (Money from strangers) to help her cover the rest of her chemotherapy and other treatments.
A month after we all prayed for Shelly, she had a follow up visit with the Oncologist who revealed her cancer was Stage 3 and he reduced the initial chemo treatments to 4 instead of 8, and he gave her the news “We are going to cure you of this cancer.” This was an answer to prayer. As much as this revised prognosis was a fresh breath of air, her treatment was just out of reach with no money to cover the treatments required.
Again we all went to our knees and asked God’s guidance and wisdom on how to proceed. Later, I asked Shelly, “Can I set up a GoFundMe site to help with your expenses?” For a short time I had to keep her name private as we asked for prayer because she had not told all her family. Likewise, I had to wait to set up the GoFundMe account for the same reason. But now it is a go.
Shelly has now had her second chemo treatment and has experienced the common hair loss, as so many breast cancer survivors can attest, so she has shaved her head. The 14 days between treatments give her 9-10 good days so she hangs on to those good days and continues to work and support herself.
Already it seems that God has answered her prayers in reducing the bleakness of her prognosis and the number of chemo treatments she must take prior to surgery. So today, we are asking for your help for Shelly Baggett.
If your heart is touched, please consider giving a few dollars to help her cover her treatment and co-pays. She asks for nothing for living expenses, only for help as she battles this dreadful disease at this difficult time in her life. Please remember that if you cannot give any money, please lift prayers for Shelly’s continued healing.
Organizer and beneficiary
Deborah Adams
Organizer
Shreveport, LA
Shelly Baggett
Beneficiary