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MoneyMedical & health

Standing with Madeline: early-stage lung cancer treatment costs

4 rounds of treatment are planned at Melbourne University Hospital; we are asking for help with the costs insurance does not cover.

🇦🇺 3003, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia6,222 views
Madeline A. Ortiz
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Melbourne
In June I was diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer. My oncology team at Melbourne University Hospital has planned 4 rounds of treatment, and the first starts in September. I was told to expect about 12 weeks away from work. I never imagined I'd be writing something like this. I'm 58, I worked as a tailor until June, and I have been the main earner for my household. Treatment is covered only in part. Medication that isn't on the approved list, transport to Melbourne University Hospital 5 times a week, and the income I have lost add up quickly. My family is doing everything they can, but we've already sold what we could and are borrowing for groceries. I'll post every invoice and receipt as an update so donors can follow where each gift goes. Where the $11,450 goes: • Chemotherapy and medication not covered: $7,000 • Scans and lab work: $1,150 • Transport to Melbourne University Hospital: $1,050 • Nutrition and supplements prescribed by the care team: $560 • Household costs while unable to work: $1,690 Thank you so much. - Madeline
#cancer#treatment#family#medical

Updates from Madeline

  1. Small update. $3,207 so far, the first invoice got paid this week.

  2. We're at 16% thanks to 55 of you. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. More news soon.

Donations

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  • Andrea K. Villalobos 🇺🇸 · $250
  • Malak Amal Saleh 🇪🇸 · $200

    “Wish I could do more. Shared with friends too. - Vigo”

  • Masud Abdul Hossain 🇧🇩 · $200
  • Sofia Riva 🇮🇹 · $100
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  • María K. Campos 🇪🇸 · $100

    “Rooting for you. My sister told me about this one. - Tarragona”

  • Anonymous 🇦🇷 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇦🇺 · $100

    “Every little bit. I'm in Ballarat, thinking of you.”

  • Tracey W. Sithole 🇿🇦 · $100
  • Pornpimol Kanya Pattanasiri 🇹🇭 · $100
  • Irene H. Romero 🇨🇴 · $100

    “Best of luck. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Barranquilla”

  • Himari Sakura Watanabe 🇯🇵 · $100

    “Rooting for you - Sakai”

  • Phượng Kim Kieu 🇻🇳 · $100
  • Amit S. Panwar 🇮🇳 · $100
  • Burak Eren Karaca 🇹🇷 · $100

    “Hope the September deadline works out. - Kadıköy”

  • Théo Jacques Nguyen 🇫🇷 · $100
  • Habib Rubel Akter 🇧🇩 · $100
  • Remedios G. Martinez 🇵🇭 · $80

    “Rooting for you. I'm in Santa Rosa, thinking of you.”

  • Tâm Tuyết Vu 🇻🇳 · $77
  • Songül Sibel Ünal 🇹🇷 · $75

    “Hope this helps. My colleague told me about this one. - Üsküdar”

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  • Dola Nipa Uddin

    Hope it all works out. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Greetings from Lapu-Lapu.

    • Okechukwu Ifeanyi Yakubu

      Stay strong. Your post was clear and honest. My mother had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. All the best.

      • Aisha Apio Nabwire

        Hang in there, Madeline. Get well soon. Love from Rotterdam

        • Luis B. Reyes

          Thinking of you and your family. Hope the doctors have good news. All the best.

          • Gabriel G. Duarte

            hang in there. Shared it with a few friends. Wish I lived closer to Multan so I could bring a meal. God bless

            • Olga Eleni TheodorouPhoto verified

              Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. All the best.

              • Trisha R. DizonQuestion

                is there anything that isn't money that would help Madeline?

                • Olivia P. Joyner

                  Thanks for sharing this, Madeline. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. God bless.

                  • Alexander Taras Marchenko

                    Praying for you. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day. Take care.

                    • Teresita D. Agustin

                      Take care, Madeline. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. God bless

                      • Sabina Shima Mondal

                        Best of luck. Shared this with my family. Love from Quetta.

                        • Harsh N. Sharma

                          Thinking of you, Madeline. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. All the best

                          • Shahid Danish KakarID verified

                            Rooting for you, Madeline. Get well soon. Love from Nashik.

                            • Kavitha E. Sundaram

                              Sending strength, Madeline. Wishing Madeline a smooth procedure and a full recovery.

                              $6,352 raised of $11,450

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