the rise of suicide in middle aged white America: retirement no longer bonus, but time of struggle

[Liberal_in_LA]

68. Medical bills are a bitch. Even the famous radio artist Joe Frank is struggling to pay them

https://www.gofundme.com/joefrank


Created on January 11, 2016



In mid-December 2015, my husband, Joe Frank, became ill. This is one in a long list of medical issues he has faced since he was born, beginning with corrective surgeries for clubbed feet between the ages of 3 and 5. He's survived cancer three times - the first time, he was given three months to live when he was just in his early 20s. Since then, he's had numerous hospitalizations and surgeries for a host of issues. Ten years ago, he suffered from kidney failure and was on dialysis for a year-and-a-half until he received a kidney donated by his cousin. In addition, for years, he's been enduring and managing pain caused by severe scoliosis of his spine.

I cannot express how much I admire Joe's courage and will to live. He has heard bad news on many occasions yet possessed the strength, courage and had the good fortune to beat the odds.

I long for that outcome now.

Forgive me for not providing details about what has taken place in the last month. I am in a condition of overwhelm. I've watched Joe face a myriad of diagnoses in the last month which has included sepsis, heart attack and pancreatic cancer.

At midnight on New Year's Eve, we were in the ER at Cedars-Sinai hospital with a dear friend and one of Joe's doctors (who left a party to be with Joe.) It was surreal to see the high-spirited celebrations on television bringing in the new year while in an emergency room hospital setting.

Until last month, Joe worked daily: posting on Facebook, recording material for his next radio program, and preparing notes for future projects. It is my deep hope and longing that he will return to that work. It gives him meaning and profound pleasure. I think some of his latest programs are among his best work.

I dearly wish to see him come home with all of these medical issues resolved soon so that he can begin recuperating.

When he does come home, however, he will be on IV medications which are not covered by insurance. The last time he returned from the hospital for a treatment of IV fluids, our out-of-pocket costs were $1500.00. That was for just five 5 days' worth of medication. This time, he will receive an IV cocktail for a month at minimum ($350 per day will be our cost - factoring in the equipment to administer the meds). (1/14 - just found out this could go on indefinitely. But Joe is determined to do whatever he needs to in order to lessen the time the IV Meds are required.)

We will need to hire someone to attend to him full-time since he is physically compromised. We don't yet know how long that will last or exactly how much that will cost. We understand that it will take a minimum of 6 weeks and conceivably several months before he gets his physical strength and mobility back. (Today, 1/13, my research shows it could be a breathtaking $200,000 if we have to hire someone full-time for a long period. Again Joe is committed to becoming strong again as soon as possible)

To top it all off, out-of-pocket cost for Joe's usual medications along with insurance payments is on average $10,000 to $12,000 per year. I am not sure what additional meds he will require after the latest hospitalization and diagnosis, but there will be at least three more.

Joe's income is based on his work for Unfictional . There was a time when he could produce up to four shows a year, which barely managed to pay the bills. But now our financial security is threatened. Joe is eager to get back to work, but requires sufficient time and care to do so.