I'm afraid my friend's niece is going to die before she gets a liver transplant

[texastoast]

This is a Texas health care nightmare. Amanda's aunt is one of my dearest friends.

Amanda has been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and needs a liver transplant stat at an out-of-pocket cost of $215,000. She is 30 years old and has never drank more than an occasional glass of wine. She has a 13 year-old autistic son who really needs his mom to stay alive.

The text below is from an email I received from my friend on Thursday. Please help if you can. Donation link is below.

Amanda lost her job at Texas Tech last December, and it took her six months to find another job with the lovely economy in Lubbock. Insurance kicked in on 10/1, the same day she was diagnosed. Aetna is denying coverage for the transplant because she was uninsured for those six months, and claiming pre-existing condition. I've never heard of this lapse of coverage tactic, but I'm not surprised. We're hoping to get enough publicity that maybe Aetna wll reconsider. The weird thing is that they are paying for her care (liver drains) at Covenant in Lubbock, and for treatment at Baylor, where they are going to try some other procedures to keep the fluid draining until we can raise the $215,000. If Aetna is paying for that, I'm not clear on how/why they can deny the transplant.

Anyway, please forward the above to anyone you can think of who might cough up even a dollar. I think Amanda's husband changes truck tires for a living.

Aetna now says that they will pay for the transplant, but not until October 2010. I'm sure they are anticipating that she will die before then.

http://www.giveforward.org/amandafield/

[Justitia]

1. I found this list of resources.....

Financial Assistance Resources
The following organizations may provide financial assistance to qualified transplant candidates or recipients and their families.

American Organ Transplant Association
[phone]

American Liver Foundation
[phone]

Medicare Hotline
1-800-633-4227
1-800-MEDICARE

National Transplant Assistance Fund http://www.transplantfund.org/
1-800-642-8399

National Foundation for Transplants, Inc. (fundraising assistance)
1-800-489-3863


She should talk to the hospital social worker, to ask for help.
The hospital social worker may be able to intervene with Aetna, or find financial assistance elsewhere.


You should post this in the general forums as well, to maybe get more eyes on it.


:rant:
It absolutely sickens me that your friend's family has to rely on community fundraising for her to raise enough money for a transplant.
It is shameful that in the United States of America, people like your friend have to turn to public appeals for charity when healthcare should be a human right.
We are the wealthiest, most powerful country in the world - yet completely immoral about taking care of our most vulnerable citizens.
She should be able to focus on her recovery in peace.
:rant:

All my very best wishes.

[texastoast]

2. Thank you so much

I will pass on the information. I would really like it if Amanda could come to Houston. Joe Galati, a truly wonderful doctor here, saved my husband's life from hepatitis C. It took twelve years of being a guinea pig, four rounds of basically what was chemo a year at a time, and the fortune of having insurance in place when he was diagnosed. Our entire family would be devastated if it hadn't been for that insurance. No one should be denied health care when they need it. I so hope America will see fit to evolve. Thanks again.

[Justitia]

3. I agree, Houston has the best med ctr in the world. My son just had a kidney transplant @ Methodist

about 6 wks ago. The staff / docs were excellent, his care was wonderful and he is recovering nicely.

He had End Stage Renal Disease, his transplant was covered by Medicare.

I know Medicare covers transplant for End Stage Liver Disease, but I don't know if you have to be 65 (you don't for kidney).
That is something your friend could ask Medicare about.

Transplant completely changed our lives - the entire family.
I sincerely hope that Aetna does the right thing for your friend & her family.

[onestepforward]

4. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's niece.

I'll be glad to foward this information. It just isn't right to have someone who needs treatment and treatment is available... only if you have a certain amount of money. It is shameful to say the least.

[texastoast]

5. Thank you so much

I got some news today that the doctors are going to try a new procedure similar to a heart bypass but with the liver. I don't know how it works yet. I just hope that it will keep her alive long enough so that she can get the transplant, if that is the right thing. Hep C patients can't get a transplant until they are virus free, but I haven't heard that she has hep C. I really appreciate your help.

:hug:

[onestepforward]

6. I have one more idea.

Tell all 4 local news stations about her and maybe one will run a story. A neighbor told me about this local story that Fox 26 had of a young woman with MS and viewers responded with help:

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/investigates/090922_dying_woman_folo

If she could get a story run on her, there is a good chance that someone might step up to help. In addition, it is also important for the public to hear stories like these. I hope this helps some.


:hug: