Help for a mom battling Ocular Melanoma
Donation protected
This is a fight to give my mother, a woman who has always fought for everyone else, a gift of hope.
In January of this year, my mother Adelle was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer called ocular melanoma. Melanoma is a type of cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, and eye its color. This specific cancer has the ability to be metastatic to other parts of the body like the lungs and liver.
Like most people, you don't plan to be diagnosed with cancer, and the diagnosis can lead to unexpected costs that are also hard to swallow. Especially when you're told theres few options and not much known to help you.
In todays market most affordable health insurance plans also come with unreasonably high deductibles.
Being that this is a rare, under researched cancer, it left our options limited to a few doctors who were out of network and uncovered by her insurance plan.
After months of researching her available options and what would be the best decision not only for my mothers life, but for my parents financially.. she decided to proceed with a treatment option that is called Proton Beam therapy.
This treatment required my mother to travel many hours away from her home in central Florida to the Mayo Clinic for research appointments, pre operative appointments, pre-treatment surgeries, treatment appointments, post operative checkins and screenings, all during a global pandemic.
For anyone that knows my mother personally it isn't a surprise how selfless and graceful she has remained during such a life altering and stressful experience.
My mother has always been the person who never puts herself first and does so much for everyone else, never stopping to put herself first even when she needs to. There were many moments through this where she felt guilty for having to do so, which broke my heart.
No one should ever have to feel like their health is second priority to their financial situations. You should never have to put your health second at the risk of your or your spouses retirement funds.
To provide some more light on that statement, 6 Years ago my father had a tragic accident that left both of his legs broken, when he was hit by a woman texting and driving. Unfortunately, this ultimately led to the shut down of the family business as it then was, halting income for my parents and others for years.
After surgery, my father was able to heal to a point that he gained function back to his legs but not without significant back and leg pain. My parents now continue to operate a small asphalt maintenance company, mostly of which my dad works by himself on a daily basis to provide for their income.
My parents have always been the kind of people who do for others endlessly and would give the shirt off their backs for anyone. Growing up, i witnessed them do for others, over and over. They have never been the type to turn a blind eye to anyone in need, ever.
This evening, my mother got the news that the her tumor has not responded as hoped and the tumor has grown in length. The limited amount of research leaves us with limited options. As always, my mother is strong and hopeful, and ready to fight. After a long day traveling to and from the Mayo Clinic my mother went to bed and my father called me for an unexpected heart to heart. He shared stories of the strength he has always seen in my mother, the times he first noticed her strength and and how much he loves her for that. He talked about her faith, and how their faith will carry them through this. He reassured me of how much my mother believes in me, and how proud of me she is to be my mom and how she talks about that all the time. He reminisced with me about what it was like meeting my mother at 15 and what it was like coming from nothing, and building a business, a life and a family with such an amazing person. Listening to my father, who has ensured great tragedy himself, talk about how he would do anything - anything he had to for my mother and to make sure she receives the care and treatment she needs.. i decided it was my turn to do for my mom like she does for everyone else. I decided to share their story, my family's story with anyone who cared to listen, to help make a difference for my mom when she needs someone to show up for her.
This is an effort to surprise my mother this Christmas with a financial gift to help with the costs that have resulted from Ocular Melanoma. If i can help ease her mind, in a time where i cannot even see my mother or give her a hug, that would mean the world to me. I ask that if you cannot help financially, that you share her story. Not only for her but for the other people who are fighting ocular melanoma, expanding awareness and getting closer to a cure.
God bless,
Jessica.
In January of this year, my mother Adelle was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer called ocular melanoma. Melanoma is a type of cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, and eye its color. This specific cancer has the ability to be metastatic to other parts of the body like the lungs and liver.
Like most people, you don't plan to be diagnosed with cancer, and the diagnosis can lead to unexpected costs that are also hard to swallow. Especially when you're told theres few options and not much known to help you.
In todays market most affordable health insurance plans also come with unreasonably high deductibles.
Being that this is a rare, under researched cancer, it left our options limited to a few doctors who were out of network and uncovered by her insurance plan.
After months of researching her available options and what would be the best decision not only for my mothers life, but for my parents financially.. she decided to proceed with a treatment option that is called Proton Beam therapy.
This treatment required my mother to travel many hours away from her home in central Florida to the Mayo Clinic for research appointments, pre operative appointments, pre-treatment surgeries, treatment appointments, post operative checkins and screenings, all during a global pandemic.
For anyone that knows my mother personally it isn't a surprise how selfless and graceful she has remained during such a life altering and stressful experience.
My mother has always been the person who never puts herself first and does so much for everyone else, never stopping to put herself first even when she needs to. There were many moments through this where she felt guilty for having to do so, which broke my heart.
No one should ever have to feel like their health is second priority to their financial situations. You should never have to put your health second at the risk of your or your spouses retirement funds.
To provide some more light on that statement, 6 Years ago my father had a tragic accident that left both of his legs broken, when he was hit by a woman texting and driving. Unfortunately, this ultimately led to the shut down of the family business as it then was, halting income for my parents and others for years.
After surgery, my father was able to heal to a point that he gained function back to his legs but not without significant back and leg pain. My parents now continue to operate a small asphalt maintenance company, mostly of which my dad works by himself on a daily basis to provide for their income.
My parents have always been the kind of people who do for others endlessly and would give the shirt off their backs for anyone. Growing up, i witnessed them do for others, over and over. They have never been the type to turn a blind eye to anyone in need, ever.
This evening, my mother got the news that the her tumor has not responded as hoped and the tumor has grown in length. The limited amount of research leaves us with limited options. As always, my mother is strong and hopeful, and ready to fight. After a long day traveling to and from the Mayo Clinic my mother went to bed and my father called me for an unexpected heart to heart. He shared stories of the strength he has always seen in my mother, the times he first noticed her strength and and how much he loves her for that. He talked about her faith, and how their faith will carry them through this. He reassured me of how much my mother believes in me, and how proud of me she is to be my mom and how she talks about that all the time. He reminisced with me about what it was like meeting my mother at 15 and what it was like coming from nothing, and building a business, a life and a family with such an amazing person. Listening to my father, who has ensured great tragedy himself, talk about how he would do anything - anything he had to for my mother and to make sure she receives the care and treatment she needs.. i decided it was my turn to do for my mom like she does for everyone else. I decided to share their story, my family's story with anyone who cared to listen, to help make a difference for my mom when she needs someone to show up for her.
This is an effort to surprise my mother this Christmas with a financial gift to help with the costs that have resulted from Ocular Melanoma. If i can help ease her mind, in a time where i cannot even see my mother or give her a hug, that would mean the world to me. I ask that if you cannot help financially, that you share her story. Not only for her but for the other people who are fighting ocular melanoma, expanding awareness and getting closer to a cure.
God bless,
Jessica.
Organizer
Jessica Boswell
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA