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Comment by joshmn | Hacker News Reader

My family is one of them (stressing about getting ends to meet).

My momma, 55, otherwise ridiculously healthy, has terminal brain cancer among other things. She was diagnosed five days before her 55th birthday (10/25) this year -- [seemingly] out of the blue.

While her and my father have insurance (through United Health Group), there's no smooth sailing because her treatments are so "specialized".

I, at 22, cleaned out my savings and checking just to make sure that her treatments will be paid for, and additionally hire a wicked-awesome in-home PCA to make sure that she's living comfortably when I'm not able to be there.

I won't get into the logistics of why my father / her husband won't pay for things.

Never been so proud to eat Ramen Noodles.

Edit: you guys make me tear up. Thanks for the support and kind words.

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You need to contact a lawyer. If you're clearing out your savings to pay for her treatment (but not for the in-home PCA), there's a good chance her insurer is committing a number of violations regarding her coverage. For many insurers, having a lawyer breathing down their necks about coverage decisions also tends to be a good way to get them to approve treatment without giving you the runaround.

So they would have spent that money on a lawyer instead. It doesn't matter what you do, you can't escape the astronomical cost of healthcare in the US.

As someone who has been in this situation, I can attest the only difference between the two situations is that if you go to a lawyer your mom doesn't get all treatments in the meantime.

Fortunately for me, the people at Mayo Clinic are amazing and gave treatment they knew we couldn't even start to dream to pay for. Not everyone is so lucky.

Ended up dropping the whole thing though. And lawyer said it was slam dunk malpractice, but reality bites and it's amazing what hospitals can do.

Coincidentally, I had the same experience at the same age.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

A great doctor bought us three good years - far longer than anyone expected.

I always say, if I can give anyone one piece of advice it's "Don't wait!". There's no telling how long any of us have left.

> Never been so proud to eat Ramen Noodles.

That's one of the most powerful statements I have heard in a long time - I'm sure she's proud of you. Good on you.

Very inspiring post. I think it will be hard for me to look at Ramen Noodles and not think about this for a while.

Paraphrasing from a a recent movie "Every one should live by a code...glad to know that yours is Family."

May I ask which movie?

Fast and Furious 6

You're barely older than me, and I can't begin to fathom how I would handle that situation. Your actions demonstrate incredible selflessness, and a startling degree of competence in the face of something no one your age should have to consider.

Your efforts are truly amazing. I hope one day in the face of such challenges I could be half the person you are now.

That's so beautiful and inspiring, thanks for sharing.

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