UT Hospital (bankruptcy, price, bill)

[luvmyanimals]

Thanks everyone, I do appreicate all the advice and prayers. SmokyMtnGal thanks for the telling me about that stuff, I will start my little baggie of getting stuff together. Today is a hard day for me, my sister is down and told me last night she was not going to go for chemo. I know she's just scared and it's the fear of the unknown. I won't let her give up, I promised her I would fight for her with every being in my body. She isn't just my sister, she's my best friend, she is older then me and has always spoiled me rotten growing up. Everyone always thought she was my mother, and she was always so proud of me. I thank everyone for their prayers and support, you all are the best in the world. I will be crying my heart out to you all in the coming weeks and putting my trust in the Lord to guide me and give her strenght to fight this battle.

[bbkaren]

We are here waiting to...well, be here for you!

Best of luck and love to you and your family.

[jimj]

Luv, our neighbor didn't want to do chemo or the stem cell transplant either. Her thoughts were "why should I go through all of this if it may or may not work, if I may die anyway I don't want to go through all the sickeness and pain for no reason". She was scared to death... Well, we all (her husband and me and my wife) talked to her. I explained things the way I saw them which was if you don't do everything in your power to fight and keep yourself alive now then what happens later on when you're not so afraid and want to live but have passed the time when the doctors could have possibly saved you? Do you really want to look in the mirror and see that you quit, that you just laid down and gave in instead of seeing a bald person and feeling ill?
Life is not fair and sometimes it's real hard and there'll be days you feel like crud but you were given life and it's your duty to fight to keep it!
Yes, she'll lose her hair, yes, she'll get sick and feel horrible but it's only for a short time and a real short time when you look at the big picture of the rest of her life.
The biggest disservice she can do herself is to give up and give in before even trying to beat this monster!
My mother died of cancer when I was 9, my best friend died of Multiple Myloma about 2 years ago and now we're dealing with our dear friend and neighbor so I do have a little experience with this scourge.
Thankfully my neighbor decided to take the treatments and actually surprised her doctors and is now a case study on people who are surviving MM, knock wood...
She felt horrible at times and went bald 3 different times but her sense of humor remained and now she is glad she fought because she's still here to enjoy another day with her family and friends of which she has many....

Take care, fight, fight, fight! Don't let her give herself willingly!!!

[luvmyanimals]

I took my sister to the doctor today and he confirmed that it was in her lymph nodes and that her cancer is Stage 3c. She broke down when the nurse handed her a book with wigs and hats to buy. She said she's just not ready. Today has been a hard day for her and me both, we have hugged and told each other how much we love each other. She goes next week to get a port put into her vein and starts chemo at Parkwest Hospital. The chemo will last for 3.5 hours we were told, but it would be for every 3 weeks, for 16 weeks. Then she will have radidation in between. I told her I was not letting her give up and she said she doesn't want to die either. We don't have a church we attend so we are going to start looking, she wants to start going. It's so amazing the little things in life you take for granted, then when something like this comes along it takes the wind out of you. I actually looked at the sky this morning and thought how beautiful and blue. I thank you guys for the prayers and thoughts. I actually told my sister about all the prayers going up for her and she just cried. She can't believe that people actually care so much. I told her you don't know these guys on the forum their super nice and sweet. God Bless!

[hiknapster]

Wow. I'm actually at work with tears in my eyes. That never happens.

I no longer pray, but I'll pray for you both.

[knoxgarden]

You are both going to need a lot of strength to get through this. Please tell her we're all pulling for her.
A friend of mine got a lot of moral support from this group:
Hope for Today Cancer Support Group, Inc.
Check the support group listings in Metro Pulse for more groups.
My prayers are with both of you.

[luvmyanimals]

Thanks for much for the info....that's the support group I was planning on going to next month for their monthly meeting. I feel I need it very badly and I know my sister does too but I'm not pushing her right now, she's going through her own living nightmare. Glad to know it's a great group. Thanks again...your all great. I will let her know of all the prayers going up for her.

[mbmouse]

I think if you ask at UT for some names of cancer survivors who volunteer to help other who are going through it for support, they have a list and have a program that connects them together. Someone who has lived through what she is getting ready to go through could really help and understand. Empathy is powerful. Just a thought.
I am still sending prayers.

[gemkeeper]

Luv, you are right about the friends you have on this forum. I have never met another group of folks like these who are always ready and willing to give you all of the support, love and prayers you could ever hope to receive.

Let your sister know that we all behind her 100% and can't wait to meet you both in person at one of our upcoming get togethers. If we all - or at least, some of us - have to shave our heads to make Sis feel more comfortable, we will!

We just want her to give it her best shot. The doctors haven't given up on her, we haven't given up on her, and you certainly have not given up on her. So, we sure don't want to see her be the first. She'll be a fighter with you backing her up.

[luvmyanimals]

Hey Everyone, It's been awhile. I was sick with the flu then got pnumonia. Another heartbreak has occurred to me and my family. We have found out my mom has ovarian cancer, no treatment will be done. She could not survive the surgery. She was in the hospital for 7 days for pnumonia too, she almost didnt' make it but they wanted us to put her in a nursing home but I refused at this point. She's pretty confused at times but knows me and who I am, have to show her where the bathroom is at times she get's lost. My sister has decided against chemo again. I have fought her every tooth and nail against this but she has made her mind up. I am praying she changes it but who knows. I know her time here on earth will be very short if she choses this route. She has no insurance anymore and Tenn-Care has told her they have no more openings. She refuses to ask for help and be a charity case. It breaks my heart and I"m tired of crying and sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind. Thanks everyone for the prayers.