MY
STORY...Louise
| “Remembering
to take five pills a day – every day – is
easier to swallow than the additional expenses that
keep popping up. Like $600 for a wig; $3,000 for two
injections; about 50 bucks a month for other pills;
and a possible $3,500 on hearing aids because of tumours
in my head. Oh yeah, and there's increased gas bills
for the one-hour drive - each way - to see my oncologist.
Unfortunately for me, I only get a tax deduction for
the wig and a $500 government allowance for the hearing
aids. I'm on my own after that.” |
The
Financial Impact of Critical Illness
For
more than a year, Louise Gonsalves bravely fought the fiercest
battle of her life - a cancer that invaded her brain, lung
and liver.
In the
fall of 2004, Louise spoke with Manulife about her experience
coping with cancer. For Louise, the nausea and lack of energy
were hard enough to manage; her most frustrating challenge
though, was finding money for ever increasing expenses.
Following
is Louise’s story, in her own words …
The other day, I heard a song on the radio: Ain’t
Even Done With the Night. I think it’s a seventies
song by John Mellencamp, not sure. Anyway, the reason I
mention it is that the song’s title made me think
of everything that’s going on in my life right now.
I’m
37 years old and battling a bizarre cancer that has invaded
my body. And of course I refuse to give in. I have too much
to do and too much to experience. I ain’t even done
with the night.
The
worst part about this whole thing is the helplessness I
feel – emotionally, physically and financially.
Nausea
and depleted energy are more tolerable than the shock I
felt when my oncologist told me my best treatment is a new
pill that costs over $2,000 per month. But wait, it gets
better: the pill is not currently covered by the government
or even most drug plans (if I had one).
Problems
with my peripheral vision are nothing compared to the sinking
feeling I got when I realized this means I can’t play
ball, ride a bike or drive. Maybe permanently. Not a big
deal I guess, except I depend on my car and driving for
a living. It’s not as simple as finding a bus route
or some other form of public transportation. So far, I’ve
found ways around it. But what happens when I can’t?
I’m almost willing to bet no government program will
help me with that.
Losing
my hair was easier than coming to terms with the number
of days I have lost to doctor appointments and tests. Time
and money I can’t afford to lose. Sometimes, I just
want to take a time out. But right now, that’s not
even an option. I own my own business and have a mortgage
to pay. I can’t just take off. But it’s always
in the back of my mind every time I buy a lottery ticket.
Remembering
to take five pills a day – every day – is easier
to swallow than the additional expenses that keep popping
up. Like $600 for a wig; $3,000 for two injections; about
50 bucks a month for other pills; and a possible $3,500
on hearing aids because of tumours in my head. Oh yeah,
and there’s increased gas bills for the one hour drive
– each way – to see my oncologist. Unfortunately
for me, I only get a tax deduction for the wig and a $500
government allowance for the hearing aids. I’m on
my own after that.
I’m
trying to develop a positive attitude, but constantly thinking
about how I’ll pay for this expense and that service
doesn’t help. I guess the government safety net I
always assumed would be there is smaller and not as strong
as I thought. And it comes with a lot of strings attached.
Which makes my battle even more frustrating.
And
that’s too bad, because when I think about it, I am
lucky. I know that sounds strange, considering everything
I just said, but it’s true. I have many things to
be thankful for. A fiancé who makes me feel alive,
happy, needed and loved. Incredible parents who are my biggest
fans and will do anything for me. A brother and sister –
including their families – who are second to none.
Awesome friends who go out of their way to share laughter.
And ultimately, I believe this community of family and friends,
along with the medical community, will help me become a
cancer survivor instead of a cancer patient. I just want
my financial community to keep pace. Because I’m definitely
someone who “ain’t even done with the night”.
Louise
Gonsalves, 2004
To
thank Louise for sharing her story, Manulife Financial provided
an honorarium to help her with her recovery.
Louise
Gonsalves lost her battle with cancer on May 23, 2005.
Recovering
with peace of mind As Louise’s story illustrates,
a critical illness often means having to face unexpected
expenses that may not be covered by government, or personally
owned plans. Selectpath offers a solution. that can help
alleviate the financial strain that often accompanies a
critical illness, by providing a cash benefit if you're
diagnosed with one of the covered conditions, including
cancer.
Content
courtesy of Wealthstyles from Manulife Investments.
