GiveForward

Fundraising and marathons – they go hand in hand.  But one marathoner and philanthropist is taking it to the next level by promising $145,000 to families dealing with out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Rather than running one marathon, Brad Feld is running 29 (if you are keeping track – that’s 759.8 miles), and in the process, raising money for 29 GiveForward families.

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.

Accidents happen but the outpouring of support for one family following a car crash was no accident.  Jeff Shafe was a normal dad, software consultant and soccer coach until December 30th, 2011.

Just two days before 2012, Jeff was in an accident and had to be airlifted from the crash site for treatment and within 48 hours was undergoing spinal surgery.  Following surgery he was in critical care for nine days and was told he had almost complete paralysis in his legs and arms.

But Jeff didn’t give up, with his wife and two kids by his side, he is undergoing intense physical and occupational therapy on a daily basis.  To add to the Shafe family’s stress, Jeff’s wife, Claire, was laid off three weeks before the accident.

While Claire assists Jeff as his sole caregiver, friends and family were determined to make sure the Shafes didn’t face this alone.  They started a GiveForward page to raise money for Jeff’s recovery after the accident.  Everyone here at GiveForward sends lots of love to the Shafe family and all of their amazing supports, we encourage you to take a moment to read their story and leave a donation or note of support.

The battle began in Berkeley California, progressed to Skokie Illinois and will hopefully end in Germany. Her name is Maria Grayson-Metaxas, and she was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in January 2010.

The Metaxas family is full of fighters – they will not sit still and will not take no for an answer. Unfortunately, the experimental treatments that they are pursuing are not covered under insurance – so as they moved their entire family from the west coast to the midwest to enter treatment at the block center, where they began their GiveForward page Conspiring to Heal Fund 4 Maria.

They have raised over $7,000 and are hoping that they hit both the financial goals, but more importantly Maria needs to see her tumors reduced by 50% in order to be accepted into the German program where they will filter her blood – which could dramatically prolong her life and improve her quality of life.

The entire GiveForward team is sending positive vibes to Maria, her husband Van and their 8 year old son Satchi. They truly are troopers in this battle against cancer.

Sam Eaton is one of a kind, in every sense of the word, as he has a rare 16th chromosomal genetic abnormality that has no other documented cases. As a result of his condition, he suffers from hypotonia, static encephalopathy, severe speech apraxia, and bilateral skew foot; and he wants to just have “happy feet”.

His friends and family created Sam’s Happy Feet on GiveForward to raise funds for his orthopedic surgery to make his feet happy again, and free of the casts that he is forced to wear.  Without the surgery, he was looking at a lifetime of worsening pain and risking the ability to walk. In addition to the care he has been receiving since birth for his feet, he receives regular speech, occupational and physical therapy.  But that doesn’t stop him from being a carefree, loving, and contagiously happy little boy.

The outpouring of love and support that the community has shown for Sam has given the Eaton family the hope and financial freedom to make sure Sam has “no mo’ boo boo feet”, as he says. Please take a moment to look at the wonderful words of encouragement (and adorable pictures) on their fundraising page and send some virtual hugs their way.

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.

When the home of Ron Wallace was burning down the day before Thanksgiving, he never thought he would be visited by another fire victim who would provide him with hope to help him get through this tragedy.

But at that moment, Tara, who lost her own home to a fire in January 2011, happened to be driving  by Ron’s home.  She happened to be in the right place at the right time and stopped to give Ron a tote of essentials to help him take care of himself and alleviate the stress of losing his home.

The tote that Tara gave to Ron actually came from Tara’s Totes, a site she created after losing her own home to a fire. Now Tara is dedicated to creating totes of essentials to help people like Ron.

Before the fire, Ron was unable to afford to make necessary repairs to his house to qualify for insurance, so rebuilding is going to be much harder than typical families who are in the same unfortunate situation.

Tara felt that there was more she could do to help out Ron, so she looked to GiveForward.com to create a fundraising page as a place where others in the community can contribute to Ron’s expenses.  Ron’s Fire Fund has created a way for members of their Wisconsin community to show their financial support as Ron rebuilds his home, and their emotional support as Ron mourns the loss of his canine companion, Klutz, who unfortunately did not survive the tragic fire.

Take a moment to check out their page and send some support their way.

At GiveForward we often see stories of family and friends coming together to raise money for funeral expenses for loved ones. When we read the heartbreaking story of 9 year old Julianna Marie Radilla, everyone in the office was overwhelmed with sadness and our hearts went out to the entire Radilla family. Sometimes inexplicable tragedies happen that remind us how fragile our lives are- and because of this we decided to make Julianna’s fundraiser this week’s staff pick fundraiser.

Covering the cost of an unexpected death can be a scary prospect for a family already coping with a grievous situation. But this week’s staff pick fundraiser is an example of how friends and family can rally around a family to allow them to focus on what’s most important during their time of distress. Julianna was out with her grandmother and brother, returning home from a fun day dirt biking. As they were crossing the street in a crosswalk, a driver ran a red light and struck Julianna. Julianna was immediately flown to U.C. Davis. Tragically the amount of trauma little Julianna suffered from and several failed attempts at a blood transfusion, her body was too weak to recover and she passed away. Family and friends are showing their love and support by setting up a GiveForward fundraiser to help alleviate some of the funeral costs.

Everyone here at GiveForward is sending the Radilla family positive vibes during their time of need. We ask you to keep the Radilla family in your thoughts and take a moment to appreciate your loved ones. Please take a minute to read Julianna’s story and send some love and support to the Radilla family.

Here at GiveForward, we see a lot of fundraisers for cancer treatment expenses each week. Ovarian cancer patients face many hurdles but Nicole’s story is particularly moving and that’s why we’ve made it this week’s staff pick fundraiser.  We hope Nicole’s story inspires you as much as it inspired us!

Nicole was diagnosed with Ovarian and Cervical cancer on July 15^th, 2011. She has 40 tumors in her uterus and needs surgery immediately to remove the tumors and determine future treatment.  Unfortunately, Nicole does not receive health benefits from her employer. In order to cover her much needed surgery Nicole’s friends and family have gathered together to raise $4,000.  So far they have already raised an amazing $3,900.

Everyone here are GiveForward wants to send a big Giveasaurus hug to Nicole and the amazing community that has rallied around her to show their support while she fights.  Please take a moment to check out Nicole’s Story and send some love her way.