Donate to Leah's Fight Against Cancer.

As people have requested a way to help Leah in her fight against cancer, several have said a GoFundMe is the best way to reach people and the easiest way they can contribute. I figured of all that have offered to set one of these up for Leah, I should be the one to do it. It is not something any parent should ever end up having to do for their child. However here I am.

I will be able to answer any questions people have and I will be available to keep Leah updated on all those reaching out to support her.

On March 16th of this year, I went with my daughter to what was supposed to be a minor hernia surgery. About the time I thought she would be finished, I was called to the Consult Room. I went in thinking they might have had to do some extra stitching or other simple matter. I did not expect to meet the surgeon who had several pictures in his hand. I was informed that they did not perform the hernia repair. The surgeon then told me it was due to my daughter having Cancer. He showed me the pictures of the tumors he had found and said that he had taken biopsies to determine the type of cancer. My Heart Stopped!!!

Leah is only 23 years of age. This was supposed to be a quick fix to a small issue over her college Spring Break. Just a few more classes and Leah will graduate with Bachelor's degrees in BioMedical Science and Psychology. Graduating in August was the focus. Now, well the focus has shifted!

For the past 7 weeks, it has been doctor appointments, lab tests, imaging and laparoscopic surgery. Add to this that at 23 and female you are focusing on being able to have children at a later point in life. This added hormone therapy to be able to retrieve eggs. We are now getting ready for surgery on May 10th. We have been told it will be a 15-hour surgery with a 10-14 day hospital stay. We do not know the path after this point. There is a discussion of chemotherapy or targeted drugs.

Before life took this twist Leah had done everything a parent could wish for their child. She was out building her life, going to college and working. She had no debt and an emergency fund. With the current events Leah is still going to college and has put in her intent to graduate this August, she is still working as much as she can and she is still focusing on her future. Her financial situation has changed. As her dad, I am doing everything possible to assist her. We have had so many co-pays and now the insurance denials. I understand the responsibility, yet the costs are beyond comprehension. What is also beyond comprehension is health insurance that denies all these things being ordered by doctors. Now we will be traveling to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida for two weeks.

My goal with this Go Fund Me is to get Leah back to the stable financial ground she was on before all this happened. It is also to help set a base for what more may come. I don’t know how long she will not be able to work. I do know that as Leah's Dad I have her back always and never want to let her down. Financially this is hitting very hard and is only going to get worse, so I am humbly asking for help. If you can help by donating to Leah I thank you!

If it is not financially feasible for you please add Leah to your prayers, meditation, intentions or any other method for raising positive energy for Leah.

Thank You

Leah's Dad

Update 1;

So that people understand a bit of how quickly costs add up and how you also end up with indirect costs I am adding this update. The first surgery Leah went in for was a hernia repair. Her co-pay was $2,000, this changed when it became laparoscopic and biopsies for cancer. Also, we found out the surgeon's fees were not in the original co-pay. These bills have started coming in adding almost$1,000 more. We then had to start seeing oncologists and having imaging done. these co-pays range from $100 to $600 each time. Being that Leah is only 23 she has gone through retrieval and preservation of eggs for future pregnancy. This is not covered by insurance and had an initial cost of $12,000. We have also started receiving coverage / claim denials from insurance. These bills amount to just about $10,000 so far.

We then started traveling to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida where Leah is going to have surgery. We have traveled to Moffitt for an initial consultation, laparoscopic surgery, surgery pre-testing and GYN Oncology appointment. Next will be surgery pre-op (today) and surgery (May 10th). We will be staying in a hotel for the surgery and during Leah's recovery. While we have not yet had any charges come in for Moffitt we know they are coming. There has also been the expense of driving to and from Tampa, staying the night in a hotel if need be and meals away from home.

All of this is on top of all Leah's regular expenses such as apartment, car, college, etc....!

Leah's Dad