Help save Suzanne Lewis' eyes from rare cancer

I hate that I'm in a position where I am telling my story on a crowdfunding site while planning my wedding, but like so many people, my mom was diagnosed with a disease, offered a treatment, but her Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield health insurance has refused coverage. The recommended treatment has been around for years and the University of Maryland Medical Center has two doctors (Doctor Kwok, Doctor Regine) and a treatment facility dedicated to proton radiation therapy, but still her medical coverage denied all appeals.

My mom has been diagnosed with a very rare ocular lymphoma, which is lifting her right eyeball and has spread to her left from behind. The mass is already disturbing her vision. 

Proton radiation therapy has been recommended by her hematologists and other specialists as it is very targeted and doesn't have major side effects. Her doctors recommend this as their preferred method to attack this rare cancer and have appealed and been denied by Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield. The insurance company wants a cheaper radiation alternative with greater known lifelong risks to her eyes. 

At the end of July my mom wants to see me, her only daughter, walk down the aisle on my wedding day. She considered delaying treatment until after this important life event, but doctors warned that the cancer could metastasize and spread to her lymphatic system and the rest of her body. I'd hate to think that my wedding could be the reason for this delay and have such a severe impact on her health. 

She will begin her proton radiation treatment and has to pay $38,000, up front, in full, to begin getting better. We are only asking to get halfway there in this GoFundMe campaign.

Proton radiation therapy is very targeted and doesn't have major side effects. Her doctors recommend this as their preferred method to attack this cancer and have appealed and been denied by Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield. The insurance company wants a cheaper alternative (photon radiation) with greater known (lifelong) risks to her eyes. Proton radiation is also recommended by her hematologists and others, not just the proton radiation specialists.

Obviously, my mom is important to me, but I know she is loved by so many others; family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and more. Please help however you can. There is nothing I want more than to see her and have her see me this July 27th and many years afterward.

Veronica Lewis


Special heartfelt thanks to the dozens of specialists that my mom has already seen, including:

Aaron Rapoport, MD, Hemotologist
Young Kwok, MD, Radiation Oncologist
Zelia Maria Correa, MD, PhD, Ophthalmologist
Kim Reck, NP, Cardiologist
Lamise Rajjoub, MD, Ophthalmologist
William Regine MD, Radiation Oncologist
and the Johns Hopkins Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute
(and to my cousin Matt Maguire who set up this GoFundMe for us)