GiveForward

Superheros are not as uncommon as you would believe.  At GiveForward, we actually come across them every now and then.  This week’s staff pick fundraiser is about one the youngest and most courageous supers we have every seen.

At only three years old, Draek Warner is one brave little boy. He, his younger brother, and mom were in a terrible car crash.  They were able to escape through a broken window, but Draek was trapped in his car seat in the crushed side of the car. Thanks to the valiant effort of three strong men, he was rescued.  His fight had barely begun, however because his injuries were very serious.  Draek was in a coma for four days, and doctors told his parents that the outcome was grim.

But what they didn’t know was that Draek is actually a superhero (photographic evidence above), and a coma is just one more evil villain to conquer. A flex of his muscles and a showing of superior willpower vanquished that no-good coma once and for all and now Draek is ready to take on his next opponent, Recovery.

His parents face a different kind of villain, one nearly as vicious and daunting to fight as Draek’s enemies: medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses. Draek had to be airlifted to Salt Lake City, and his parents have dropped everything to be by his side. Family and friends have formed a justice league in order rally support for Draek and his family.  Their internet headquarters, a fundraising page on GiveForward has garnered loads of virtual hugs, prayers and donations.

At the risk of revealing his secret superhero identity, Draek speaks about his harrowing tale on the page,

“Everyone has been helping and doing what they can. All my other Grandma’s and Grandpas and lots of aunts and uncles and my cousins have been here to see me too and let my Mom and Dad know how much they care about all of us. My family who lives too far away is calling every day to check on me and everyone is saying prayers for me to get better. Please keep ‘em coming! I have a long way to go.”

Everyone here at GiveForward is sending the Draek and his family positive vibes during their time of need. Please take a minute to read Draek’s  secret missive and send some love and support, because a superhero’s powers can grow exponentially with help of friends.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but with the myriads of out-of-pocket expenses for aspiring parents it may take a village to afford one!  Whether you are welcoming your new family member the old fashioned way or adopting, there are many financial concerns to take into consideration.

Fertility Treatments
Average out-of-pocket costs of treatment can range from $1,000-20,000 depending on your insurance coverage, but the cumulative cost increases significantly with repeated procedures and use of medications. Parents trying to conceive will face unexpected out-of-pocket expenses such as consultations, tests, lab work, anesthesia, and the costs associated with third party help such as medication for a donor or surrogate.

These are few tips from No Baby On Board for paying for fertility treatments. (Click here to read them all) :

• Pay Cash:  Paying out out-of-pocket could mean discounts, especially if you pay up front.   How you accrue the money is up to you. (psssst….we suggest fundraising.)
• Loans: There are several companies that offer treatment loans such as the ARC Affordable Payment Plan and the IntegraMed Financial Services that allow you to make monthly payments. However, moms- and dads-to-be should be aware the interest rates tend to be very high.
• Shared-Risk Program: A number of clinics allow you to pay a large amount up front for about four cycles of IVF, if you don’t conceive, you are refunded a percentage.  Since there has been some controversy about safety and the ethics of these programs be sure to consult with your doctor and the Better Business Bureau before proceeding.
• Non-profit Organizations: Numerous non-profit organizations exist to help aspiring parents. They offer grants and other forms of assistance. From INCIID the Heart, Fertile Dreams, Madeline Gordon Gift of Life Foundation, Angels of Hope, FertileHope are a just a few.

If you or your partner is a cancer survivor there can be further expenses, and oncofertility is rarely covered by health insurance. (Click here to read our blog post  on fertility after cancer.)

Maternity Costs
Having the baby may be the easy part!  Average costs for childbirths in a hospital or birth center range from $1,500 for an uncomplicated birth to over $20,000 for a C-section.

A BabyCenter survey found that 39% of fully insured parents paid $1,000 or more for out-of-pocket medical bills related to childbirth, and 9% had expenses of $5,000 or more.

From prenatal vitamins to anesthesia, there are many expenses you might not even think of: Prenatal care: $0-$2,000, prenatal vitamin: $15/30-day supply, maternity clothes, childbirth classes: $50-$200/class, hospital nursery costs and anesthesia to name a few.

“One mom from our survey was hit with a $4,800 bill for her epidural. ‘We were surprised to learn that only 25 percent of it was covered by our insurance,’ she says.”

Home births can be less expensive ranging from $1500-3000, but are rarely covered by insurance.  If you go this route you will have to consider the costs of the midwife and equipment needed for the birth.

Web MD offers these tips to help pay for maternity costs:

• Get gently used maternity clothes from friends, resale shops and other sources like Craigslist. You are only going to wear these clothes for a couple months and quickly grow out of them.
• Comparison Shop for Vitamins: As long as your prenatal vitamins contain the recommended amount of folic acid,  600 mcg., you can shop around.  Sometimes you can get a prescription for the vitamins from your doctor, so all you need to worry about is the copay. Other times it is better to buy over the counter.
• Don’t Over-buy Baby Supplies: It is easy to get overwhelmed in the baby section of your department store.  Focus on the fundamentals; a car seat, a crib,  a changing table, some baby clothes, and a baby monitor.  Babies do not need many of the luxury items marketed to starry-eyed parents.   Watch for bargains and don’t exclude hand-me-down and resale options.
• Negotiate Birthing Costs: If  your insurance doesn’t cover the whole bill, talk to your health care provider about childbirth costs.  Often the hospital will give you a negotiated rate.  (Dr. Leslie Ramirez from Leslieslist.org, a website for comparison shopping for diagnostic tests and prescriptions, has some great advice on how to accomplish this.)

Adoption Costs
The average cost for both U.S. and international adoptions range between $15,000 and $35,000. This includes (but is not limited to): the home evaluation fee, legal and immigration fees, travel for both you and your child-to-be, medical expenses for the child, donations to the agency or orphanage, etc. Not to mention all the stuff you will need to make your new family member feel at home such as clothing, car seat, baby monitor, crib, etc. (Look above for tips on affording all the accoutrement of parenthood)

Fortunately there are many resources for prospective adoptive families.  A publication on adoption expenses from the National Endowment for Education suggests the following:

• Tax Breaks:  Talk to your accountant about writing off the costs associated with your adoption.  There are also subsidies available for military families, tax credits, and provisions of the Family Medical Leave Act that may apply to your situation.  You should explore all these benefits.  (Click here for more information)
• Employer Programs:  Many employers offer grants or some other form of assistance for adoptive families.  Talk to your HR department for more information. (Click here to view a fact sheet on this topic from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
• Non-Profit Organizations:  There are thousands in grant money available for families looking to adopt from dozens of organizations if you know where to look.    The National Adoption Foundation is a good place to start.  (Click here for a large list of adoption resources from Christian Family Adoptions.)

GiveForward and Your Village Can Help…
A new baby is a joyful event for family and friends. Whether you are trying to conceive, already expecting or seeking to adopt,  the whole village can offer advice, words of support and donations to help prepare for baby’s arrival with a fundraising page from GiveForward.

Chicago Internist, Leslie Ramirez

Do used car shopping and health care have anything in common?  According to Dr. Leslie Ramirez, the answer is yes.  Dr. Ramirez is the creator of Leslieslist.org,  a website that helps people comparison shop for diagnostic tests and prescription drug prices.  On the site, users can shop around, negotiate, and price match to ensure that they are getting the best deal.

In an interview with GiveForward, she offered some tips for health care consumers and insight into the campaign for better cost transparency in health care.

What made you decide to start Leslieslist?
It is a given that the uninsured are not getting the care they need, but trends are showing even the fully insured are struggling. A succession of people came into my office who were choosing to delay or refuse care due to the cost.  Here are a few of their stories:

• Debora M.* had blood pressure of 180/110, but didn’t buy the medicine I prescribed to her because she couldn’t afford the cost.

About a third of insured Americans don’t take their medicine the way they should. They split doses to stretch them out and buy them less often. 

• Joan K’s* radiologist recommended that she get an MRI due to “a shadow that might be lymphoma.” Although insured, Joan had a very high deductible; her MRI would cost over $3,000. She worries whether she has cancer while she debates whether she can afford the test.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, since 2008 the majority of family deductibles have risen to at least $2,500, and the amounts continue to rise.   The economy and job loss are forcing families to make tough decisions.

• Carmen R., who had recently lost her job and at 60 was still too young for Medicare, told her daughter that she would skip her yearly mammogram since she wasn’t sure when her next paycheck was coming.

Carmen R. is my mom.

I realized that I could (and must) do something to help them. I knew that the blood pressure medicine Debora needed could be bought for $5 at Kmart, and If Joan and Carmen got their tests done at an independent facility, they could pay a fraction of the cost. I made this website for them, and for the many many patients (and their doctors) out there who can relate to their stories.

*The names of patients have been changed

Since starting the website, has health care cost transparency improved? 

It’s definitely improving.  I’m seeing interest in Leslieslist from people of all backgrounds. New York and other states are passing laws to provide patients of the pricing of their top 100 medicines. This would be incredibly helpful if it was more widespread. Also, the market is starting to take notice.  One of my proudest moments was when I was contacted by a radiology facility.  They had lowered the cost of their MRI so they could be on top of the list, because Leslieslist is filtered by price!

What are top five things patients can do to be informed healthcare consumers?

5) Negotiate & Price Match… You can negotiate when buying medicines. Recently I called CVS and was given three different prices for the same drug.  You assume it’s set, but its not. Some pharmacies even participate in price matching, such as Jewel-Osco. Bring printed proof of the lower price to the pharmacist and ask if they can match it.

 4) Talk to your provider…Prices at the doctor’s office can be flexible. Often if you explain your financial situation, the doctor will work with you.  Every doctor I know feels this way.  Also, hospitals have a charity care requirement in order to maintain their budget requirements. They have a motivation to help you, you just need to ask.

 3) Opt for Independent Laboratory Facilities…Because they have less overhead costs, freestanding testing sites offer better prices; often as great as 1/10 of the cost of major hospital facilities. They are also more flexible with negotiations and may offer discounts if you pay up front.

 2) Buy from Costco and other wholesale clubs…Wholesale clubs often have strict parameters for drug pricing.  For Costco this is the wholesale price plus 14%–resulting in really affordable prices for consumers.  You do not need to be a member to shop at the pharmacy.

For generics, wholesale clubs are your best bet! Most retail pharmacies continue to charge a higher price after a drug is offered in a generic form–despite the fact that the drug is now more widely manufactured, thus cheaper–because they know you are used to paying the higher price.

 1) Shop around...In my presentation for students, I use the image of a used car salesman, because anything goes when it come the vast discrepancies in prescription and health care pricing.  Whether you use Leslieslist to track prices, or call around yourself,  you can make informed health care purchases.

Even if you comparison shop and take advantage of all of Leslie’s tips, health care is still expensive.  You can help a friend or loved one pay for their out-of-pocket medical expenses with a GiveForward fundraising page.

Film evokes emotions like no other media can. Whether the video is funny, inspirational or heartwarming, viewers can’t help but relate.  The warm and fuzzy feelings brought on by watching a video often translate into action, and for a fundraising website, that means donations. Fundraisers with photos and videos are 41% more likely to reach their fundraising goals than pages without media.

Still need convincing?  Check out this video from Cate, our Director of Marketing, on two reasons why you should use video in your fundraising:

Why you should fundraise with video

Creating & Posting a Video

Video gives you a chance to speak directly to donors and express why this fundraiser is so important to you.  With cameras being built into smartphones and laptops, it has gotten much easier to take a few seconds and record a message to people visiting your GiveForward page.

When creating a video, take a minute and jot down some notes on what you’d like to say.  Don’t worry about reading from a script, the best videos are messages that come from the heart, but it is important to make sure you know what you want to say so that your video can be short, sweet, and to the point.

The best place to start with your message is by explaining why this fundraiser is important to you and why you think visitors to your fundraising page should give.

Check out this tutorial  on how to post videos on YouTube.

How to Post a Video

Share a video is just as easy as recording one.  Check out this tutorial  on how to post videos on YouTube, and here are the steps to adding a video to your GiveForward page:

1) On the “Photos, Videos & Links” tab  of your create a fundraiser dashboard, scroll down to the second option: Embed a YouTube Video
2) Write a description in the box labeled: “Enter a title for your video”
3) Copy the url link (ie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=your_video_id) from your YouTube video website into the box labeled: “http://www.youtube.com.”

3) Click “Add Video.”  A screenshot and description will appear at the bottom of the section.

4) People can now watch your video!

Video Fundraising, GiveForward Style

Need some inspiration?  Here are some videos GiveForward fundraisers have used to tell their stories, make us laugh, and inspire giving.

• Bella Blows a Kiss:  A precious one-year old girl, who has a cancerous neuroblastoma in her abdomen blows a kiss to the camera. (Raised $67, 507)
• Breathless Mom:  A friend appeals to the community to help a mom with Cystic Fibrosis afford the double lung transplant that will save her life. (Raised $60,166)
• Hot Dogs & D’Backs: Riley a four-year old trooper comes out of tumor resection surgery demanding water, hot dogs and her favorite sports team, the D’Backs. (Raised $7, 491 and counting…)
• Help Hannah Breathe:  A beautiful baby girl,  born with a rare congenial abnormality known as tracheal agenesis (her trachea failed to develop) struggles to breathe  with a machine’s help while soft music plays. (Over halfway to their goal of $50,000)

Adding a video to your personal fundraising page can be a great way to connect with donors. If you’ve got a good sense of humor, a funny video can be very effective. If humor is not your shtick, a video that is heartwarming or inspirational works equally well. Remember that the video doesn’t have to be fancy in order to be effective. So if you’re not exactly Steven Spielberg, don’t sweat it. Simply standing in front of the camera and telling people why you are raising money can be very compelling. In the end, whatever you end up doing, remember it’s best to keep it short (1-3 min) and to the point. Check out the GiveForward Fundraising Bootcamp for more tips on using media like videos to maximize your fundraiser’s success.

Oncofertility studies the reproductive future of cancer survivors.  With cancer survival rates among people of childbearing age skyrocketing, oncofertility is an increasingly importaint field of stufy.  Nearly a half a million young people each year overcome cancer.  However, treatments can compromise a cancer patient’s ability to later have children. Emerging technologies give patients and their families options at the time of diagnosis such as the cryopreservation of sperm and eggs.

Young cancer patients may not be aware that oncofertility options are available. This is especially true of teens and young adults for whom having children is still some years away.

“Let’s say you’re diagnosed with breast cancer. Your doctor might say, ‘The treatment might affect your fertility, but let’s figure out how we’re going to go ahead and save your life’. That brief sentence might be considered oncofertility counseling—and the depth of your counseling can have a real impact on your quality of life as a survivor”  – Dr. Mitchell Rosen, Dir. Fertility Preservation program University of California

Dr. Rosen, recently published of a study on oncofertility trends that found that while 61% were counseled on the impact of cancer treatments on fertility, only 4% of surveyed female patients took steps to preserve their eggs or embryos.  Read more about Dr. Rosen’s study in this Huffington Post article.

Research indicates that cost could be the largest obstacle.

Oncofertility is rarely covered by health insurance. Men who participate in sperm banking can expect to pay about $800 for the initial collection and then between $200-400 per year for storage.Treatments for women are much more expensive, starting at a minimum of $8,000 and easily increasing to more than $20,000.

Reform such as Sacramento’s landmark bill requiring insurers to provide fertility options to cancer patients, may help to make oncofertility more accessible. The cost to the provider would be minimal, according to the California Health Benefits Review Program, and would save money in the long run. Research shows that patients facing loss of their reproductive ability often choose less effective treatments, or delay care and as a result get sicker over time necessitating more medical attention and additional expenses. Until reform is realized, however, patients must foot the bill.

Online fundraising sites like GiveForward, are helping to allay interim costs.

Cristina Dosal Alampi  was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2011. Because her cancer is affected by estrogen levels, Cristina must take a drug that stops estrogen production. This can be detrimental to a woman’s fertility.  Her doctors recommended embryo preservation, but as is often the case, it was not covered by her insurance; the $18,000 plus had to be paid for out-of-pocket.

This cost in addition to the myriads of expenses faced by Cristina (and other cancer patients) was daunting to say the least. However, using their GiveForward fundraising page, Cristina’s family and friends were able to raise $46,000.

 ”I think my story could comfort other women who are faced with the same struggles I faced back in August. The money raised was an incredible help financially but more importantly, emotionally! I was flooded with love and that is what kept me strong throughout all of this!!” 

If your friend or loved one is battling cancer, consider starting a GiveForward fundraising page to help reduce the stress of oncofertility and other out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Healthcare reform, known as the Affordable Care Act, is being decided by the Supreme Court and the impact the reforms can have has everyone talking.

Recently GiveForward’s founder, Desiree Vargas Wrigley and user Shannah Rodriguez-Torres were interviewed on CNN about the rising costs of health care, healthcare reform and how families are utilizing crowdfunding within their personal networks to raise money for medical expenses.

GiveForward and Health Care Reform on CNN

Like many Americans, the GiveForward team is wondering just how we will all be affected by the reforms, so we put together some highlights of the reforms to give you an idea of what this might mean for you.  Again, these are just a few major points in the reform, for a full breakdown of the reforms, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/ OR check out this awesome animation from the Kaiser Foundation.

Changes that became active starting in 2010 to 2011

If you have Insurance:
For all new or modified policies active as of March 23, 2010

• Adult children up to the age of 26 can be covered under their parent’s group health care policy.
• Children can not be denied health care coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
• No more lifetime coverage limits for essential health services.
• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires health plans to cover a broad selection of free preventive services including
• Blood pressure tests and tests for cholesterol and diabetes
• A range of cancer screenings
• Well-baby, and well-child care up until the age of 21.
• Insurance companies in individual and small group market will be required to spend  at least 80% of premiums dollars on clinical services and wellness activities, 85% for larger group markets.

If you are on Medicare:

• If the cost of your prescription falls within the “donut hole” (wherein Medicare covers no medical expenses between $2,700 and $6,154.), you will receive a 50% discount on brand name drugs.
• The gap in prescription drug coverage will start to shrink by $500 each year until it is gone.
• You will receive  a free preventive health screening  and wellness visit each year.

If you don’t have insurance:

• If you’ve lost your job, you may keep Cobra coverage until the State Health Care Exchanges (2014 deadline) are set up.
• Tax credits for small business may encourage more employers to set up insurance plans

Changes you can expect to see in 2013

Your medical expenses must exceed 10% of your income in order take advantage of tax deductions. Until 2013, the amount is 7.5%.

Changes you will see from 2014 and beyond

If you have Insurance:  

• Income-based sliding scale subsidies will be provided to help people pay for health insurance premiums.
• Check out this handy calculator from the Kaiser Foundation to estimate your subsidies.

If you are on Medicare:

• The “donut” gap will have disappeared, ensuring full prescription drug coverage.

If you don’t have insurance:

• It will be a requirement that everyone buy insurance: or pay penalty The penalty starts at $95 (or 1 percent of your income, whichever is greater) for a single person in 2014, goes up to $325 (or 2 percent of your income) in 2015, and levels out in 2016, when you’ll pay either $695 (or 2.5 percent of your annual income).
• Anyone making up to 133 percent of poverty, (or approximately $14,400 in 2009) will have access to health care under Medicaid.

If you have pre-existing condition:

• Beginning in 2014 insurers will no longer be able to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
• The high-risk pools will end, people with pre-existing conditions will be required to purchase insurance.

Again, for a full breakdown of the reforms, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/.

If you think someone you know is eligible for a high-risk pool and could use some extra support to pay for the higher than average premiums and other out-of pocket expenses, visit GiveForward.com to set up a fundraising page today!

Car accidents and sports injuries aren’t the only causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI), seemingly harmless falls and bumps to the head can be just as damaging.  “Even a ‘ding,’ ‘getting your bell rung,’ or what seems to be a mild bump or blow can be serious,” warns a brochure from the CDC about the dangers of concussion. As part of National Brain Injury Awareness Month, GiveForward encourages you to “mind your mind.”

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 1.7 million people sustain a TBI each year and 3.1 million people live with life-long disability as a result of the TBI. Since their brains are still developing, concussions can have a more serious effect on children. TBI is the leading cause of death and disability for children between the ages of 0-4. An average of 475,000 children (ages 0-19) per a year sustain brain injuries, 62,000 of which require hospitalization.

The financial repercussions of brain injury can be just as dire as the physical ones. Brain injuries can be detrimental if not treated promptly. There is no single indicator of TBI so you should get examined, even if you’re only displaying a few concussion symptoms. It may be in your best interest to get a MRI or CT scan, but these tests and other treatments can be expensive.

In moderate cases of TBI, extensive care is needed both directly after the injury and throughout the recovery process.   Multiple tests and therapy to re-learn basic skills may be necessary.  Average hospital stays for a TBI cost around $8,000 per a day. In severe cases, the patient may require long-term care.  The range for residential post-actute recovery centers is about $850 to $2,500 per a day.  Even with insurance, affording care can be a struggle.  The out-of-pocket costs from co-pays, deductibles and living expenses add up quickly.

Family and friends of Anuradha Mitra had to be nearly as persistent about fundraising as Anu has been about her recovery.   After suffering severe brain trauma and other debilitating injuries when she was stuck by a bus on her way home from her internship, her community came together using a GiveForward page to help raise money to pay for the out-of-pocket costs associated with Anu’s accident.  These unexpected expenses are significant because Anu is an international graduate student from India and has limited health insurance. The doctors kept telling Anu’s family “no.”  “No, she won’t live through tonight…”  “No, she won’t show any brain activity…” “No, she won’t wake up…”  Countless times Anu has proven them wrong and now she is well on the road to recovery.   A torrent of love and support has resulted from her family’s fundraising efforts; they are over halfway to their goal of $50,000.

After experiencing TBI, people may need special equipment to help with their recovery. Power wheelchairs, wheel-chair accessible vehicles,  and home alterations such as ramps and door widening are just a few. The family of Thomas “Tommy” Hopkins Jr.  a veteran who sustained a TBI while serving overseas is fundraising to help with medical equipment.  Tommy is fortunate because the VA hospital treating him has a program to hire his wife as a full time caregiver, typically this expense is the responsibility of the family. But the cost for the equipment he needs to ensure mobility and accessibility in his day-to-day life is up to him and his family.

Even if your insurance covers basic caregiving, rehabilitation treatments may be outside the provider’s scope. The family of Tibor Zahajszky, a compassionate family physician and talented artist, are experiencing this gap in coverage first hand and have turned to GiveFoward for help. Tibor suffered a TBI in August of 2011 and is showing good progress toward his recovery.  Doctors have recommended a neuro-rehabilitation program–but the family would have to pay out-of-pocket, costing upwards of $100,000.  Additionally both Tibor and his wife (who is caring for him full time) are unable to work.

Online fundraisers like the ones created by Anu’s, Tommy’s and Tibor’s families can make a significant difference in a TBI victim’s access to treatment and therefore the progress of their recovery.   For more information about National Brain Injury Awareness Month visit the Brain Injury Association website. If you know someone who has suffered a brain injury, you can visit GiveForward.com to start a fundraiser to help them pay for their out-of-pocket expenses.

You’ve just found our your friend has been diagnosed with cancer. You’re probably experiencing a range of emotions including fear, guilt, confusion and sadness.  You’re wondering, “how should I act around them?”  “Is it OK to talk about it?”  And most of all, “What can I do to help?”

Lori Hope, author of Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know, documentary filmmaker and cancer survivor, teamed up with Aflac insurance in order to answer that question.  They conducted a nationwide survey of unpaid caregivers to better understand how people with serious illnesses would like to be approached socially. The survey identified the top ten things to say to someone who is seriously ill.  Most focused on keeping positive and supportive while being respectful of the patient’s time, space and decisions. “I love you, and I am here for you no matter what.” was number one.  Others included:“I’ll be thinking about you tomorrow at [noon] during your treatment/appointment/surgery,” and  “It’s normal to be scared or depressed. I’m here.”

What NOT to say…

• Telling someone how to feel: Each person faces different sets of fears and challenges when met with a serious illness. Telling people how to feel, or that they should think positively, can be counterproductive. However, letting them know that it’s all right to have feelings of fear and sadness is often more effective than saying, “You’re going to be okay.”
• Avoid making assumptions or comparisons:  Your friend’s experience is unique, and they may not want to hear about your second cousin who is a ten-year cancer survivor and regularly competes in marathons.
• Comment on a person’s choice of treatment options: People with cancer each have different treatment plans and different responses to treatment.  They arrive at these decisions after deep consideration. It doesn’t matter what you would do in the same situation.

Be the same friend you always have been…

You’re friend will experience physical and emotional changes but you should do your best to treat them the same way you always have.  Keep positive and remind them that you are there for them.  Demonstrate your hope and optimism by making plans for the future together.

Treatments may make small tasks into big struggles.  Be patient with your friend.  Watch for cues that it might be OK to help but don’t force the issue.  They most likely would prefer to be as independent as possible. When in doubt ask permission; to visit,  offer help, give advice…

Offer specific ways you can help…

The nonspecific offer: “Let me know if there’s anything that I can do,” is one of the worst things you can ask a friend who is battling cancer. They are most likely overwhelmed with decisions about health care, fears and concerns. Day-to-day needs may be the furthest thing from their mind.  It’s far better to think of specific ways you might help and then offer to do them. Consider what your friend really needs and what you’re able to do:

• “I’m going to the store, can I get you anything?”
• “Would you like me to pick up the kids from daycare?”
• “Should I water your plants?”
• ‘Can I take you out for lunch?”

Don’t be offended if the answer is “no,” but try again another day.

“Cell warfare doesn’t leave much time for chores like scrubbing the bathtub or weeding…Cancer turns everyday things into existential symbols. Dirty laundry, dust bunnies, and empty refrigerators quickly become images of disorder and loss of control.” says Kelly Corrigan, newspaper columnist and breast cancer survivor.

Serious illnesses can leave you too overwhelmed, tired or sick to ask for help, also your friend may feel like they were imposing.  Extending specific offers, without being asked, shows that you truly want to help.  A bag of groceries or a load of dishes can mean more than dozens of cards.

It may prove useful to both you and your friend if you organize a support team to accomplish the the myriads of task that will make your friend’s life easier and more comfortable. This way you can make sure that someone is always checking in and that chores do not go undone. Online resources can help you coordinate your efforts.

Laughter therapy

Be silly and have fun.  Send them a hilarious You Tube video or a cheesy postcard. Ethan from GiveForward has some great tips for keeping your friend giggling.

The solace of silence…

Sometimes it’s better to give your friend some distance, “This may not be a good time. I’ll call again in a few days, ” is a good thing to say when your friend is not up to talking.  When you are sick, there are both good days and bad days, this could be one of the latter.

An underrated and greatly appreciated way to help is to sit quietly and say nothing.   People with a serious illness spend a great deal of time and energy explaining how they are feeling and relaying the details of their illness to friends, family, co-workers and even strangers. Your friend may be weary of talking about cancer and want discuss something else or maybe they need to rest and silence would be a welcome change.  Someone just being there, is all the help they need.

Support your friend emotionally–and financially…

Cancer is a drain: physically, emotionally and financially

• Average out-of-pocket expenses amount to $712 a month–even with insurance!
• Expenses include: co-pays, travel to and from treatment, prescriptions and many others.
• Some treatments are not fully covered under insurance– some are not covered at all.
• In addition to medical expenses,  patients often have to take extended periods of time off of work.

“One in five people with cancer use up all or most of their savings, and those are people who have insurance, ” says Christy Schmidt, a cancer survivor  and an author of the a joint report from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Cancer Society outlining  the serious financial consequences of cancer.   Another study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center revealed that people diagnosed with cancer were twice as likely to file for bankruptcy.  Medical expenses are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S.

If your friend is like most people, they are unprepared to handle this kind of expense on their own.  But you can help.  By starting a GiveForward fundraising page you empower your friend’s family and friends to offer emotional and financial support.

Jamie Dieringer raised $67, 507 for family friend 18 month old, Isabella Pollard, who had a cancerous neuroblastoma in her abdomen.  Her parents were under-insured at the time because her mother was pregnant and on leave from work and her father had recently graduated from university and hadn’t yet found a job. Fortunately between their insurance and the funds raised from their GiveForward page the Pollards were able to afford Bella’s medical care which included five rounds of chemo and travel from their home in Hawaii to the Boston Children’s Hospital for surgery. Bella has been pronounced cancer free and has returned to blowing bubbles and finger painting. Lori also raised money with GiveForward for a friend with cancer, read about her experience on her blog.

Battling cancer is a challenging, scary and debilitating experience.  Fortunately, your friend has you to help them through it.   Trust in your friendship, remember to be positive, non-judgemental and to offer specific ways to help.  Your enduring presence will reassure and comfort and your help with practical things such as occasional chores or starting a GiveForward fundraising page to allay expenses will maintain normalcy and keep the bills the paid. Do your best to be a good listener and give your friend plenty of space–sometimes just being there is what helps the most.

Is is possible to prevent cancer?  While it may not be 100%, according to the American Cancer Society, regular screenings, preventative medicine and a healthy lifestyle can dramatically increase your chances to live a cancer-free life.  To celebrate National Cancer Prevention Month, GiveForward is taking a look at some suggestions to help you fight cancer.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates 173,200 cancer deaths will be caused by tobacco use in 2012. These along with cancers caused by excessive alcohol use can be prevented completely. An active lifestyle combined with good nutrition can give you major edge in preventing many diseases including cancer.   By using sunblock and other protection when exposed to the sun, and avoiding indoor tanning, over 2 million skin cancers could be prevented on a yearly basis.

Some cancers are related to infectious agents such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and others. Behavioral changes, vaccines and antibiotics can reduce your risk of contracting these. Annual screenings by a health care professional for cancer helps  enable early detection so that doctors may begin treatment, drastically increasing your chance of recovery.  Cancers that can be prevented or detected earlier by screening such as cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, oral cavity, and skin account for at least half of all new cancer cases.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women aged 50 to 74 get a mammogram every two years to screen for breast cancer. Women aged 21 to 65, or those who have been sexually active for three years, should have a Pap test to screen for cervical cancer at least every three years. For colorectal cancer, men and women aged 50 to 75 should be screened with a yearly fecal occult blood test or sigmoidoscopy every five years, or have a colonoscopy every 10 years.  Schedule your annual screenings today.

The same methods used to avoid cancer and detect it early stages can help cancer survivors prevent recurrence. Chris Hartford, a healthy young mom of four, was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  She had a tough road to recovery but is now happy to report that she “barley has cancer.”

Her doctors have suggested a number of lifestyle changes to help prevent recurrent cancer or contracting a different type of cancer later in life including: avoiding sugar & caffeine, limiting alcohol intake, exercising for 30 minutes a day, and increasing time spent sleeping. She will also be sure to have one MRI and two mammograms yearly, regular blood work, and high doses of vitamin D.

“So, here we are, breathing great sighs of relief and renewed enthusiasm to kick ass in my forties so I can live to be 100, dancing and singing all along,”  Chris says on the GiveForward fundraising page her friend started in order to raise money to help with the financial hardships Chris and her family face due to her cancer.

If you have a friend or relative who was recently diagnosed with cancer or is trying to cope with other out-of-pocket medical expenses,  you can start a GiveForward to offer them financial and emotional support.

Soldiers risk their lives for our country. Although the government provides services for the nation’s 24 million veterans, many need additional help. Often they may not qualify for a program, or the programs they are enrolled in fall short of meeting their needs. In some cases, benefits may expire even though the veteran still needs assistance.

Most veterans are eligible for enrollment in Veterans Health Administration (VA) benefits, however access to care and benefit amounts are determined by the government’s assessment of numerous factors including severity of service-related health issues and length of service. Historically the VA healthcare system was provided exclusively to veterans with service-connected disabilities, but as of 1996 the VA extended services to all veterans and has become an important “safety net” for many veterans who would otherwise be uninsured.

Unfortunately, even with this expanded scope, not all veterans are covered. A research team at Harvard Medical School found that over 1 million veterans between the ages of 18 and 64 were uninsured in 2008.  About half of uninsured veterans are classified in the lowest priority group, and are not currently eligible for VA healthcare, while others may be eligible, but live too far from VA facilities to access services.

“Like other uninsured Americans, most uninsured vets are working people – too poor to afford private coverage but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or means-tested VA care,” said Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a Harvard professor on behalf of the Physicians for a National Health Program.

Uninsured Americans have trouble accessing medical care, and veterans are no exception.  The study found that in 2008 approximately 25% failed to get necessary care due to costs and 44.1% were not able to see a doctor or nurse at all.

Injuries sustained in combat and ongoing health issues from service-related injuries, sickness or environmental exposure can be detrimental for a military family’s finances.  When a road-side bomb went off near Private Doug Rachowicz’s vehicle in Afghanistan, it killed four of his fellow service members.  Pvt. Rachowicz survived but with serious injuries.

His family, including his mother, father and sister rushed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be at his side, despite the fact that some of them are ineligible for the benefits of the Family and Medical Leave Act.  As the cost of travel and lodging for the Rachowicz family pile up, friends and family have started a fundraising page on GiveForward to help.

The Rachowicz’s situation is indicative of the challenges faced by many military families. Military service exacts a heavy toll on soldiers and their families. According to a recent report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, the unemployment rate among veterans is 13.1% and many more are underemployed. 21.3% of veterans between the ages of 18 and 24 fall below the national poverty level. Even if their basic health needs are met, service members often have expenses that exceed their income. Bills accumulate while they are deployed and time spent job searching after returning home can cripple their finances.

So far the Rachowicz family has raised $435 towards their goal of $5,000.  Their family and friends have offered an outpouring of support on their GiveForward page.  All Americans deserve access to high quality, affordable health care.  It is especially devastating that the men and women who have sacrificed for their country, often placing themselves in harms way, face difficulties accessing and paying for health care when they return home.  If you know a  military family in need of financial and emotional support, consider starting a GiveForward page for them.