Katie O'Shea's Breast Cancer Expenses Fund

I am creating this go fund me for my sister-in-law, Katie Belle. After some routine check-ups and follow up visits to her doctor, Katie was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on August 5th, 2021. While she was proactive about her health and caught this cancer early, she and her husband Eaamon and young son, Euan are about to venture into the uncharted territory of surgeries, tests, medication, hospital stays, medical expenses, and uncertainty that comes with such a life changing diagnosis. Even while they are surrounded by a huge network of support and love from friends and family, I know that they would never ask for any financial help from them, even when they need it the most.

After many days and nights of soul searching, independent research, and speaking with the amazing oncology nurses and doctors who have helped guide her through her options, Katie has decided to have a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction. This process will occur over 2 separate surgeries. Katie will be scheduling her first surgery in October, and her first hospital stay will be nearly an hour away from home, in Indianapolis. Her initial stay is expected to be at least 4 days. This is a scary and uncertain time for both Katie and Eaamon. By creating a fund, I hope to help ease their financial worries and burdens that are already creeping up and will continue to accrue. I also hope that this fund allows Katie to fully heal, without the burden of feeling the need to hurry back to work, and allow Eaamon to take the days off that he needs to be with Katie Belle without worrying about what money he is losing for a lost day of work.

Thankfully and gratefully, Katie has insurance through her job at IU, but she is also still paying out of pocket for her yearly deductible that will roll over and begin again in the new year. With surgery in the very near future, she will likely meet that deductible, but any other costs not covered by insurance will be out of pocket. Eaamon is a self-employed, small business owner, and each day he goes to work is a day when he is guaranteed a paycheck, so days when he needs to be home with Katie, caring for her, are days when he won't see money coming his way. Katie only has 3 weeks of PTO to use before her guaranteed income is gone as well.

Katie and Eaamon recently took their car into the shop for some brake repairs, and had to walk away only fixing the most trying issue, spending nearly $900 of a $2000+ estimate for total repair. Due to the travel to and from Indy that is currently happening and will continue for the foreseeable future, money to help keep them in safe and reliable transportation during their travels is so very important right now. Katie also needs to purchase compression socks and compression bras for before and after surgery, as well as a recliner to have on the lower floor of their home for Katie to safely recover in when she comes home from the hospital.

Katie and her little family mean the WORLD to so many people. Even if you can't give anything monetarily towards this fund, they will ALWAYS welcome all of the love, good energy, prayers, and positive thoughts you can muster. I wholeheartedly believe those will reach them too, and help them through this journey. Katie WILL fight through this and beat cancer in the end as this is just a moment in her journey, and there are so many more beautiful moments she has yet to experience. I know I want her here for each and every one of them. I love you, Katie Belle. We all love you.