Ways to Help

Hi Loved Ones,

Many of you have been asking if there is any way that you can help us as we go through this process.  Any takers for the following tasks?

Go to my doctors appointments for me.
Make daily phone calls to doctors/insurance.
Go ahead and do the mental processing about what it is like to have cancer.
Have a bilateral mastectomy. What?!  No takers? 

Actually, if I know all of you, you would willingly take those burdens from me in a heartbeat. However, honestly, much of this is just something that we have to get through. Thankfully, we have A LOT of support as we go through it.

Although much of this is on us, Craig and I have brainstormed about practical things that others can do for us that would be helpful.  Below is a list of the few things that we thought of.

1. Emotional Support
If you think of us, feel free to send us a card, an email, or a text of support.  Many of you have been doing this already, and our apartment is covered in awesome cards.  As I am a lover of cards and handwritten notes, this has been a great reminder of support as we go throughout this process.  Feel free to send one to Craig one too.  He has been hanging in there like a champ and doesn't get any of the fun fame of being a cancer patient.

Our new address in Edinboro is:
411 Waterford St. #110
Edinboro, PA 16412

2. Meals in Pittsburgh
Some people are able to love best through food.  If you are one of those people and you live in or around the Pittsburgh area, you can make a meal for us to have in our freezer for my recovery.  My sister, Natalie, has set up a MealBaby account, has offered to be the reception site for the meals, and will make sure that the meals get to our freezer in Edinboro.  You can access that site and sign up here. There will be 2 drop off times, one on Friday the 22nd, and one two weeks later.  The drop off location will be Natalie's house in Pittsburgh, and the address is listed on MealBaby.

3. Help with Financial Costs
Please know that Craig and I have never been in a position to help someone financially in any great way.  If you are in that position, I get that and respect that. Just send us a card. If you have $5, $10, or $20 to give, it would help pay for a copay, parking in a parking garage, driving to Pittsburgh for appointments, etc.. Natalie is also spearheading a GiveForward fundraising account to raise money to cover costs.  You can visit that site here. The total cost to be raised is listed on the site and it is our best estimate.  Right now that amount will cover three items: Medical costs not cover by insurance (copays, deductibles, coinsurance), transportation to/from Pittsburgh for treatment over the next couple of months, and money to pay for some bills in the absence of my lost wages (more on that below). We will adjust the amount if it goes up or down.  If for some reason people donate more than we need, we will happily donate any extra money to a good cause.  We are not trying to make money off of this :)  Also, if you would prefer to send us a check instead of going through the site, you can do that and we will deduct it from the amount we are asking for.



So those are the 3 practical things that we have thought of so far.  Other than that, just keep doing what you are doing!  Craig and I have been overwhelmed by how much we need and how much people have stepped in to meet those individual needs with what they have to offer. It is a beautiful thing.  I pray that I can receive well and give well in my life.

Good news related to work/expenses! Penn State Behrend employees are awesome and have banded together to donate 17 vacation days to me so far! That is almost 3 1/2 weeks!  This is EXTREMELY helpful for the 4-6 weeks that I will be out of work after my surgery.  This limits the amount of lost wages and financial burden.  Plus, it makes me feel really supported at work and great about being a Penn State Behrend employee.  I feel super thankful and awed by this. If you are one of those employees who donated a vacation day, I will never know who you are individually, but thank you.

Prayers for my surgery next Friday!
Katie