Warren, NJ - Ignored In The Healthcare Debate - Bake Sale To Cover Medical Expenses

[TomCADem]

I know the right wing believes any type of healthcare reform constitutes socialism, and the media loves to broadcast people comparing President Obama to Hitler, Stalin or Satan. The sad thing is that the media ignores the stories of those who discovered the hardway that the health insurance they were so happy with when they were healthy turned out not to be quite so adequate as the combination of high deductibles and low maximum coverage wipes out family savings.

http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2009/08/warren_county_organizations_te.html

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At just nine years of age, White Township resident Matthew Bell has been fighting cancer for two-thirds of his young life.
First diagnosed with leukemia at age 3 and then with brain cancer at age 8, Matthew has had two bone marrow transplants and two tumors removed from his head. Surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy treatments have sent Matthew's cancer into remission several times. But in April 2009, Matthew's leukemia returned again, this time in his central nervous system.

Last month, surgeons again removed a brain tumor, and today Matthew has a neuro-port in his head, which is used to administer treatments. Matthew struggles with leg pain, headaches, fatigue and stomachaches. He sometimes has trouble breathing and problems sleeping. Scans, MRIs, spinal taps, blood draws and other uncomfortable, painful procedures are all too familiar to Matthew, a much-loved kid who simply wants to go to school and sleep in his own bed every night.

Like many kids his age, Matthew loves to play with Legos and Bakugans. He has a vast collection of shark teeth, as well as rocks, arrowheads and fossils. Matthew dreams of swimming with sharks and educating people of the importance of sharks to our oceans' ecosystems. He would love to visit California's Lego Land and his dream job is to be the person who creates new Lego kits. Matthew also has his own real-life hero: his little brother, Joshua, who has donated his bone marrow to his big brother twice now.
Matt's parents, Carenna and Brian Bell, do their best to hold it all together by keeping a four-person household up and running while dealing with an overwhelming years-long battle filled with fear, worry and anxiety for their oldest child.
"As parents of a very sick child we struggle with the fact that one day the hospital will say that there is no more they can do," said Carenna. "We struggle with the fact that all we think about is being with Matthew, but we also have to work when we can. We worry that as time goes on, if things get worse, we could lose our house."
At the same time, Matthew's parents are incredibly thankful that, with the community's help, they've so far been able to keep their house, which Matt's dad grew up in. They are very grateful to their friends, neighbors, and even strangers, who have surrounded Matt and his family with love, support and donations for the last several years. Medical expenses have mounted quickly despite the family's insurance coverage, and the community has rallied with various fundraising events, from golf events to bike-a-thons, to raise much-needed funds for the family.
This month, members of the Mansfield Masonic Lodge, White Township Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), and the Belvidere High School Girls Soccer team will join together to hold a car wash and bake sale, with proceeds of the event going to the Bell family.
Michael Iannitelli, who is helping to organize the effort, explained, "After seeing many events take place to assist the Bell family, our secretary James Taylor suggested that we hold a car wash to benefit Matthew Bell. We decided to maximize the effort by also having a bake sale. Knowing that the White Township PTO has held many events for Matthew and is quite familiar with the situation, we reached out to them and they were happy to take part in the bake sale."
Another member of the Masonic Lodge, Thomas Hallowell, has daughters on the soccer team. When he asked them to help, they were eager to participate. The girls will help wash cars the day of the event.
The car wash and bake sale will be Saturday, Aug. 22 (rain date Aug. 23), from 9 a.m. to 3 pm, at the Mansfield Lodge #36, 275 State Route 31 North, Washington. Cars are $5 and SUVs, vans, and light trucks are $7. Various fresh-baked goods and treats will be available as well.
Supporters can send cards and well wishes to Matthew Bell at 39 Titman Road, Belvidere, NJ 07823

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[madrchsod]

1. the only first world country that holds "beg-a-thons" because of medical expenses

is`t grand to be an citizen of the usa....

[TomCADem]

2. This Is The Ugly Secret Behind Those Happy With Their Health Insurance Stats

Most people are healthy, so they have no reason to be unhappy with their healthcare, except for the costs. However, they should ask people like the child's family in that story whether they are satisfied with their health insurance. Did it protect them or not? They are about to lose their house. They have to resort to bake sales to pay for the son's medical expenses. Isn't insurance supposed to protect us from such a situation?

[ejpoeta]

3. i always think of the movie "John Q".... that family who had insurance

but when their son collapsed and was found to need a heart transplant, they found out just what their insurance was.... and the hospital wouldn't even put the kid on the damned list until they came up with like $30k. I don't know if such a thing has actually happened, but I would believe it... and people die everyday because they can't afford the bills when the insurance they thought they had turns out to be something other and they are left blindsided. There sure is something wrong with a country that has to have fundraisers and canisters at the store to raise money to help a family out. And you'd better hope you are lucky enough that people WANT to help you then. It's nice that people would want to help.... but this system is just ridiculous. Do people in canada have to have fundraisers??? England??? for medical expenses???