A Pathway for Parents, from Parents: Part V

We will continue to discuss the different chapters from our digital Parent-to-Parent Guide. This month we are featuring the Financial Plan.

Coping and understanding your child’s cancer and treatment plans can be stressful in itself. Most caregivers are forced to stop working in order to care for their child. Throwing the financial jumble into the mix is another challenging hardship that families face. So, what can you do to ease financial stress?

The first people you should speak with is someone from the hospital support staff such as a social worker. A social worker can be helpful in helping your family make financial changes because he or she usually knows of any funds that can help ease the financial burden, as well as apply for government assistance your family qualifies for. If you are a member of a church or temple, they may be willing to help set up a fund for out-of-pocket medical expenses. It can also help to decide what household expenses are necessities and which are luxuries. For example—expanded cable packages, wireless telephone bills, eating out, etc.

Monetary donations made to your family are considered gifts and are not taxable. In order to deduct your child’s medical expenses, the cost must be more than 7½% of your income for the year. (Given that tax laws remain the same.) Keep all of your receipts- gas, food, prescriptions, travel mileage and lodging. It’s smart to hire a tax preparer to assist you with your taxes the year of your child’s treatment. A licensed professional will be able to optimize your tax deductions.

It’s no surprise that hospital and doctor bills can become extremely confusing during your child’s treatment. It can be helpful to call the hospital billing department once a month to update your bills and combine them when possible. It’s important to remember that physicians charge separately from the hospital, make sure to take care of both sets of bills.

Remember that it takes a few months to adjust financially to having a child with cancer. Hopefully this financial plan can assist with guiding your family through this journey.

Bonding with Chemo Duck

Christine Steiner knew something wasn’t right with her youngest child, Olivia. After a month of viral illness diagnoses she demanded blood tests.

The result was ALL – acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also known as acute lymphocytic or lymphoid leukemia. The date, June 15, 2015 is etched in her memory.

“It was the day after Liv turned two years old,” said Christine. “I knew something was definitely wrong after a month of her being sick. She has been the easiest baby since the day she was born. She was not herself at all.”

“We were immediately sent to Boston Children’s Hospital to start treatment.”

Christine recalls the first two weeks of Olivia’s hospitalization as tough. An infection nearly sent the toddler to the Intensive Care Unit.

“One of our nurses brought in this yellow duck in hopes of getting Liv to smile,” said Christine. “It worked!”

“They gave her a Chemo Duck right before she had her port placed and it was so helpful because they were able to show her how they were going to give her the medicines and what they were going to do,” continued Christine .

“She really liked the idea that they were showing her how they use the lines, and she absolutely loved the idea of giving medicines to Duckie. It took her mind off of what they were doing. It served as a wonderful distraction.”

Duckie was not only helpful to Olivia, but also useful for her older siblings ages nine, eight and six years old. Christine taught them about the port that was inserted under Olivia’s skin and how doctors give her the life-saving medicine to treat her cancer.

“Chemo Duck has helped our entire family and comforts Liv when her port is being accessed.”

Liv and a fellow cancer patient often play with their Chemo Ducks together while at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

“They have bonded over their ducks,” said Christine. “It’s terrible when a family is put in this position, but anything that can help your child feel better is amazing.”

“I hope the Chemo Duck creators, Lu and Gabe, know the impact this has on patients. We are so thankful.”