Women We Have Helped – Aileen

Grant Recipient: Aileen

The stress of worrying about my finances has made my recovery even more difficult. Any help with my rent or other utilities would be greatly appreciated.

Diagnosis: Stage IIB breast cancer (diagnosed 05/2014)

Treatment: Chemotherapy with surgery scheduled

Grant used for: Health insurance premium and electric bills

Aileen’s story: Aileen is a mother of two teenagers and was a stay-at-home mom until her cancer treatments left her too ill to care for her children. She writes that her children “…are what’s kept me going through my cancer treatment,” and that it “breaks my heart not to be with them,” when they moved in with their father, Aileen’s ex-husband.

Even before her cancer diagnosis, Aileen struggled with health problems. She experienced excruciating pain in her neck, back, and arm, which left her unable to work. In the midst of multiple surgeries to correct the problems, she received a diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma in her left breast in May of 2014. She went through chemotherapy treatment and was tentatively scheduled for surgery in November of 2014. In August, Aileen’s RN patient navigator at Scripps La Jolla noted that her cancer had metastasized to her liver.

During this time, Aileen’s bills mounted. Since she is not able to work, she relies solely on the alimony and child support payments from her ex-husband. Just a few months before her cancer diagnosis, her husband went to court and had reduced her alimony by $1,000 a month. Aileen is now reliant on financial help from her 73-year-old mother who still works full time. She tells us, “Every month I wonder how I’ll pay my bills and now my medical bills are really adding up.”

Aileen’s RN patient navigator tells us that Aileen’s oncologist is asking her to pay 30% of her bill or she may not be able to continue with treatment.

At Shades of Pink Foundation California, we saw that Aileen’s need was great. With the help of our generous donors, we were able to provide her with a grant that allowed her to continue paying her healthcare insurance premiums so that she could afford her care. Our grant also helped her cover some of her utility bills.