Story
October 2009: Single Mom Needs Transportation for Child Missing Cancer Treatment Story:
In 2008, JJCCF provided assistance to this family after receiving an email from the hospital social worker regarding Felix’s condition and his urgent needs. As a three-year old fighting Rhabdomyosarcoma, Felix underwent an operation to remove a tumor in his stomach. As a result, he needs rigorous chemo treatment going forward for at least one year. Dorymar is a single parent living in Hialeah with four children between the ages of two and eight years old. All are U.S. Citizens. The father went back to his native country and does not provide any support for the family. To support her family Dorymar worked in home health care, earning $15 an hour on a regular basis until Felix’s illness. Without the ability to work on a regular basis, Dorymar receives assistance from the Government such as Medicaid, food stamps, and Supplemental Security Income. With four children, however, this does not provide enough for her family to meet the demands of living day-to-day.
Needs
Felix receives treatment from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Broward County. While the Government typically provides transportation for Medicaid patients, it does not cross county lines. This is problematic because Dorymar’s car was repossessed after she lost her ability to earn income on a regular basis. Moreover, she owes two months of rent and is on the verge of being evicted (rent is $1,550 per month and includes utilities). Due to this financial and logistical crisis, Dorymar said Felix had to miss two post-operative appointments because she did not have transportation and was unable to afford $80 each way for a taxi. Currently, she takes public transportation when she is able to work and carpools with co-workers whenever possible. In short, the family lives in Hialeah, Dorymar works in Okeechobee, and Felix has to go regularly to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital – ALL WITHOUT A CAR.
