A cancer diagnosis in America has left a Letterkenny couple facing medical bills of over $100,000.
Karen McDermott and husband Jason McGroarty were told in October that Karen had colon cancer.
Since then Karen, from Letterkenny’s Golf Course Road, has undergone 12 chemotherapy sessions and continues to require constant medical attention. And while they do have some health insurance, it does not cover all of the 31-year-old’s health needs.
The last bill the couple received was for $54,000 and Jason said he has stopped counting.
“To get an ambulance is $1,500 and at the moment we are in an ambulance every two minutes. When we moved out here people warned us that medical would take the shirt off your back but I never expected this. Luckily we do have some insurance but it isn’t the best. I don’t know what our total is at the moment but I would say it has passed the $100,000 mark.”
Karen and fine art photographer Jason moved to New York permanently four years ago. Prior to Karen getting sick, they ran a small vintage toy store.
Revealing how his wife’s cancer surfaced, Jason said, “We were back and forth for 18 months asking for a colonoscopy because Karen had lost quite a bit of weight. It was frustrating because we knew something wasn’t right but they kept telling us that she wasn’t the age for colon cancer and that colonoscopies were for people over the age of 45.
“Eventually we went to the emergency department because she had such abdominal pain. A scan showed a tumour in her liver which was benign but during that scan they discovered an inflammation in her colon.”
Karen was diagnosed with stage 3B cancer and further examinations revealed infections in six of her lymphnodes.
They sought help at the NYU Cancer Center where oncologist Dr Paul Oberstein was running trials for her specific mutation.
“They didn’t accept our insurance but Dr Oberstein read the nightmare we were having and told us to forget about the cost and that we would figure something out later,” said Jason.
In happier times…Karen and Jason enjoying a party together.
Colon cancer has become one of the biggest killers in people aged 20-40 because of late diagnosis, a fact that is frustrating medical professionals the world over.
“Doctors don’t offer colonoscopies to younger patients as they don’t deem them necessary until the age of 45,” said Jason.
“But we have been in touch with hundreds of people our age and younger going through the same battle with late stage colon cancer which should have been caught earlier. Know your body and if you present symptoms, push your doctors for a colonoscopy even when they resist.”
Karen is continuing to receive treatment on an almost daily basis but remains in good spirit.
“We have a lot going on here but Karen is doing her best every day. She’s a battler and she’s built out of tougher stuff than me,” her husband said.
Due to Covid the couple have not been able to get home. But according to Jason the support from Donegal has been immense.
“When we were leaving Letterkenny we couldn’t wait to get away and broaden our horizons. But when you are away your roots tend to pull you back. Letterkenny is like that, it’s a special place and over the last few months we have been getting messages of support from people we haven’t heard from in years. Going right back to our schooldays, people have been getting in touch and we have been really humbled by it all.”
All smiles and pink hair.
The financial burden is well down the priority list. But it is still there in the background, he admitted.
“When I see a bill now it is like getting an ordinary letter. I try not to worry too much because at the end of the day, what is money? My only concern is Karen getting well and we are grateful for every day, we take the positives and we roll the punches as they come at us.”
To help cover the costs a Go Fund Me page has been set up and has so far raised over $40,000. Next Friday evening, Friday May 13, a fundraising evening of music featuring Jason’s uncles John and Pat Muldowney, Marie McCormack, High Heeled Converse and The Daylight Wobblies will be held upstairs in Sister Sara’s. Tickets are €20 and things get under way at 7pm.
To donate to the Karen and Jason go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/coloncancertreatment?qid=f174c47fb21e6398f32bf24817034633
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