Sun, Nov 08 2009
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Published June 27, 2009 10:23 pm - I was surprised at how sad I felt last week when I heard about the death of Farrah Fawcett. I don’t think for a minute her one-year stint on “Charlie’s Angels” or her trademark hairstyle had anything to do with whatever pushed my emotions on Thursday. And, whatever it was that got to me, it had the same effect on almost every woman I saw that day. Our admiration of this former “jiggle” actress had little to do with the tanned, beautiful woman of the 1970s Carol Stark: It's not a handout, it's a hand up I was surprised at how sad I felt last week when I heard about the death of Farrah Fawcett.
I don’t think for a minute her one-year stint on “Charlie’s Angels” or her trademark hairstyle had anything to do with whatever pushed my emotions on Thursday. And, whatever it was that got to me, it had the same effect on almost every woman I saw that day. Our admiration of this former “jiggle” actress had little to do with the tanned, beautiful woman of the 1970s. No, we admired her because she managed to overcome a stereotype. She evolved. She was a champion for battered women in “The Burning Bed.” She shaved off her hair when she was diagnosed with cancer, and she became flesh and blood just like all the rest of us. At age 62, Farrah Fawcett was far more than a poster girl. And, had cancer not claimed her, who knows what more she could have accomplished? But, Fawcett had one thing that many don’t have when it comes to fighting cancer: money. Imagine being diagnosed with cancer and having to not only worry about fighting for your life, but also fighting to keep food on the table and a roof over your family’s head. I learned last week that there’s a group, which has recently partnered with a local hospital, that offers financial relief for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Founded in 2000 by breast cancer survivor Mary Beth O’Reilly, Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks offers non-medical financial report. That means you could get some help on your rent or mortgage, your auto repairs, your utilities and your car payment while you’re undergoing treatment. Life doesn’t stand still just because you’ve got the big C. Crystal Webster is the executive director of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. In order to provide more services, BCFO has partnered with Freeman Health System. In addition to the financial help for breast-cancer victims, the funding is also available for mammograms for qualified applicants. Webster told me the application was one page and was designed to help as many as possible. Here’s one case study from our area. A 36-year-old Webb City woman had a mastectomy and began her chemo last year. She was scheduled for at least 16 treatments. She’s married, with three children, but was home on maternity leave when she was diagnosed and had not been released by her oncologist to go back to work. The family had insurance through her husband’s employer, but because the patient was unable to go back to work, the family was having difficulty meeting co-pays and deductibles. The BCFO provided $1,940 for one month to help the family make mortgage, car and utility-bill payments for one month. I have a whole stack of similar cases on my desk. In another case, a 59-year-old single woman is waiting for a decision on Social Security/Disability because her breast cancer has kept her from returning to work as a truck driver. She’s used all the money in her CD, and she feared she was going to lose her house. The BFCO provided four months of her mortgage payments, two months of electric bills and car insurance, and money for a new set of tires on her pickup truck. A 61-year-old woman living in Newton County has been receiving treatment for metastatic breast cancer for several years. All she asked for was some help with housekeeping and grocery shopping, but based on her need, BFCO is providing two months rent, two months of car insurance, car payment for two months, two months of utilities and two months of pay for housekeeping services. I was amazed at how many area breast-cancer patients have been helped through BFCO. Yet, I had never even heard of the organization until last week. 
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