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Testimonials
photos: Jennifer Bowen Photography
Because of Christopher’s Cure, we have been able to focus completely on our daughter, who is battling a terminal illness. We have been able to put aside our financial concerns, which increased after Olivia’s diagnosis. She was denied health care coverage because of her illness, and this has put a huge financial strain on our family. Surgeries and procedures had to be paid for out-of-pocket. This added immensely to the stress we were already dealing with. Because of the constant care Olivia requires, Christine cut back her work schedule, and Eric left his job (where he was working six to seven days a week) to begin his own business. This has given him the flexibility to spend more time with Olivia and help with her care. Christopher’s Cure has helped us tremendously to get through this difficult transition period by taking away the financial worries, allowing us to spend quality time with Olivia and focus our energy on taking care of her needs. Christopher’s Cure has given us an amazing gift…the ability to put aside other concerns and treasure every day that we have with our daughter.
Eric & Christine Hoffmann
I was honored to help a family earlier this year. I initially met the family during a routine clinic appointment. At that time the mother shared with me that her son, the patient, had been in the hospital for over a month with a newly discovered brain tumor. She spent much of that time in the hospital with her son. Her husband was not able to work his normal hours due to the responsibility to care for the other children, and his desire to also be at the hospital with their son. She reported that they were behind in mortgage payments as a result. She talked about how much the home meant to the family, especially at a time like this. Mom filled out a Christopher's Cure application which was then reviewed by Psychosocial Team members. The team determined that this situation exemplified the purpose for the Christopher's Cure fund. I had the honor of notifying the mother by phone. It brought tears to my eyes, to hear that though I was not able to stop the pain of having a loved one be ill, I was able to assure this family that money worries needn't be a factor on that day. The mother later reported to me that the provision of that assistance allowed her to return her focus to caring for her ill child, and not get carried into a deep depression which would have taken her attention away from his care.
I am grateful that, as a Social Worker, I have Christopher's Cure as a tool in my tool box for working with families of children who have significant health issues.
Thank you for the opportunity to share this story and to participate in your program.
Tammy Abbott-Thiel, LMSW
Social Worker
Children’s Rehabilitative Services
124 W Thomas Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85013
My name is Tina Brownfield. My 10 year old daughter Rowan is, for the second time in her life, bravely undergoing treatment for leukemia. She was first diagnosed at the age of six, and required 2 ½ years of chemotherapy. Because she was often too sick or vulnerable to infection to attend school, my partner quit her part time job and stayed home to care for Rowan. We accomplished this, as you might imagine, by re-financing our house, using savings and Rowan’s college fund, and, of course, by accruing a formidable sum in credit card debt. None of that was important, really, because the only thing that mattered to us was that we get Rowan through her treatment and back to good health. And we did! Rowan finished her chemo protocol, returned to school, her hair grew back; she was the glowing picture of good health, and we were so relieved!
A year and a half later, we were devastated to find that Rowan’s leukemia had returned. That first night in the hospital I lay awake, afraid for my daughter and for our family, and certain that we were headed for financial ruin. We still hadn’t recovered financially from the first go around. I couldn’t see, between lost income and increased medical expenses, how we were going to make ends meet. Along the way, we were lucky enough to be chosen by Christopher’s Cure to receive financial assistance. It made all the difference in the world to have them cover a month’s worth of our car payment, utility bills and mortgage. Everything changes with a diagnosis of cancer: loss of financial stability can be one of the most stressful factors at a time when the last thing that a family should have to worry about is money. Christopher’s Cure provided us a measure of relief and comfort at the most extraordinarily stressful time of our lives, and we will always be thankful for people in the world whose goal it is to lighten the load for people like us who are walking this difficult path.
Thank you!
Tina Brownfield, Michele Maisey, and Rowan Grace Maisey (leukemia warrior!)
We recently submitted an application to Christopher’s cure to help the expenses that are involved with my daughter’s diagnosis. They generously responded in our time of need. We have had to take several unpaid days off work in order to take her to the many appointments over the last year, along with just being by her side as she receives her treatments. The fund will also help with the transportation to and from Good Samaritan. We are now able to spend some additional quality time with Dani and not have the pressures that come with financial issues.
My daughter, Dani was a beautiful 14 year old, loving life and all that it offers, when she was suddenly diagnosed with an Astrosytoma brain tumor in Nov. ’08. This, as you can imagine was a sudden shock. After a recent visit to the pediatrician, they then discovered the tumor in her brain. After unsuccessful surgery, Dani started chemo. This was a very difficult year. Dani was homebound and very miserable. To top it off, she lost contact with all of her friends. Dani persevered, while still maintaining a 4.0 grade average. Unfortunately, the chemo had no effect on the tumor and we are in our second week of radiation treatments. This will be a six week process, five days a week. The trip will be sixty-five miles round trip. We hope this is the answer.
Dani hopes to attend ASU in the fall of 2012. She wants to give back to all that have given so much. Dani is our hero. Thank you very much Lori for your kindness and support.
The Koenes family,
Kristy, Brad,
Dani & Jacob
My name is Josie Jones. I am a pediatric oncology social worker at Banner Health Cardon Children's Medical Center. I have been in this position since May of 2008. Prior to this I was working at another local hospital in a general pediatric ward. I worked there for five years. At that time I was also working with the oncology pediatric population.
There are several things I have learned about cancer during this last six years.
First, cancer doesn’t discriminate.
Cancer affects patients of every ethnic, financial, religious and age background.
Cancer affects the young, the old and those in between.
Cancer affects the rich, the poor, and those in between.
Cancer affects every aspect of a person’s life.
It affects their physical, emotional, financial, spiritual and social realm of their lives.
It affects the patient, their parents, their siblings, their friends and their community.
In working with patients and their families I have encountered many families who struggle financially due cancer. Sometimes the parents lose their jobs because they have to be in the hospital with their child. Sometimes they don’t get paid for lost work hours. In working with families in these situations, I always look for resources in the community. I have to be diligent and make sure the family meets the criteria for the organization I’m referring them to.
I rely very heavily on Christopher’s Cure Hardship Fund. Christopher’s Cure Hardship Fund has been a great asset to my ‘resource list’ ever since I discovered it a couple of years ago. I have referred multiple families for financial assistance. The families I refer are those families who prior to ‘cancer’ had been doing okay financially. These are families who do not qualify for state or federal assistance. These are families who would fall through the cracks without the assistance of Christopher’s Cure Hardship Fund.
The assistance provided by Christopher’s Cure Hardship Fund allows these families to spend more time at the hospital without having to constantly worry about how they will pay their next bill. It gives the children an opportunity to have their parent at the hospital as much as possible. It also gives the families hope & confidence in the community at large.
Thank you Christopher’s Cure Hardship Fund for allowing me to refer families over.
