At the beginning of April, 2010, when Sam was just 4 months old, he had surgery to remove a lump from his scrotum.
On April 13th he was diagnosed with Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma and given a 30% cure rate.
I learned of Sam’s story through friends who frequent one of the boards on the TheNest.com. His mother Cassie shared their story and asked for prayers of support. My heart ached for them and the tremendous battle they have ahead of them from the moment I heard of Sam’s diagnosis. I, like so many of you, followed Layla Grace’s battle with Neuroblastoma as she neared the end, and it tore me to pieces to think how unfair it is to lose a baby to cancer.
Sam may have the same form of cancer Layla Grace had, but there is hope for him. So much hope. His parents, family, friends and so many other people are willing to fight for him. Hard. He began chemo treatments on April 27th, and as of Cassie’s latest blog post, he seems to be handling round 2 pretty well.
Can I just say that I can not imagine the strength it takes to face something like this. Having a teething infant is hard, sleepless nights are exhausting, breastfeeding can drain you, but to eclipse all of that with a cancer diagnosis, chemo treatments and hospital admissions? Completely, totally unfair. UNFAIR.
I dissolved into a puddle of tears when I read this post on Cassie’s blog.
I hear people talk about what their kids are doing or what they hope they’ll do or become and I just desperately want him to make it there. Scraped knees, school dances, best friends, hurt feelings, swingsets and playgrounds with big slides, peeing on trees, playing in the dirt… I want him to experience it all.
To make matters worse… yes, worse… they now have to worry about finances and insurance. This is how Cassie explained their situation to me:
In order to take care of Sam I dropped to PRN or “as needed” status with my job, which meant that we were no longer eligible for benefits and starting in June will be paying for Cobra. My husband’s employer does not offer insurance and my husband and I are not eligible for private insurance due to preexisting conditions. At first I entertained the notion that I could still work 3 days a week, but soon realized that wasn’t feasible. We’ve only spent a handful of nights out of the hospital since his diagnosis.
Sam was approved for passport (medicaid.) The reason we would like to keep Cobra coverage for him in addition to the passport is because if for some reason he is dropped from passport and we need to add him back on the cobra plan there is a chance that there will be a waiting period before any preexisting conditions are covered if there is any lapse in coverage. We’re trying to play it as safe as possible. Cobra seems like a lot for us to pay for but is nothing compared to the astronomical amount we would have to pay for just ONE admission without insurance. But if worse comes to worst, my husband and I will just go without insurance.
I don’t know if this is divulging too much, but with my husband’s paycheck we can pay for our mortgage and bills and that’s it. There’s no extra for food or gas or necessities… and there’s really not $1,500 extra for Cobra. Next month our car will be paid off which will help. We are truly just trusting that God will provide and so far he has.
I reached out to Cassie because I wanted to help. I know I have the platform here to do so and amazing readers and contacts to help make it happen. With all the stress this family is having to deal with, medical bills and groceries should be the LEAST of their worries.
I’ve been working on this for a couple weeks, and I’m so excited to finally announce the #helpSam Fundraiser. Trust me, it’s going to rock. It has to. My goal is to raise at least $1,000 for Sam and his family, but how awesome would it be to blow that out of the water?! I know it’s possible. All the details, everything you need to know about how to make a difference with only $5 is HERE. Help me #helpSam.
Thank you so much for taking time to set this up. I followed Layla Grace at the end and felt so helpless. I’ve followed Sam since the beginning and I appreciate this chance to help. Praying for Sam!
Hi Jill; thanks for putting this together! I donated, tweeted, blogged, facebooked and everything else I can do to help!
I donated!
Just donated and will go tweet now !
Thank you for setting this up Jill. Stories like this break my heart. I’ve donated and posted on a link on my Facebook.
Thanks for setting this up!!
I donated and tweeted!
http://twitter.com/AMamaStorkKnows/statuses/14695480702
I donated again (nateb70), I just couldn’t help myself. Every little bit helps, right?
Thank you so much for setting this up. I worked with Cassie at Baptist East and use to give Sam love everyday while he was growing in Mommy’s belly. We have been thinking of ways to help and now thanks to you have a way to help. Thank you so much from Cassie’s work friends.
Thanks for spreading the word. I donated and tweeted.
Donated and tweeted. Keeping baby Sam in my thoughts!
I donated and then tweeted!
What a wonderful thing you are doing. I donated.
I donated. It’s under my maiden name (Spencer) because I’m too lazy to send my marriage certificate to Paypal and get it changed to Zinser. LOL
donated and linked on my facebook profile! can you update us on how much has been raised for baby sam’s family so far? such a wonderful idea!
I donated, tweeted and linked on FB. Thanks for bringing attention to this beautiful family and hosting the fundraiser.
http://twitter.com/LouEffie/status/14783826463
I dontated and tweeted!
I donated and posted a link on my blog and FB!
http://toddlertreatsandmore.blogspot.com/2010/05/praying-for-baby-samuel.html
You are awesome for setting this up, Jill!
My heart’s broken over this. I donated!
I donated, I can’t remember if I left a comment previously! Thanks for doing this!
I tweeted and blogged and donated!
Ok sorry. Count that last comment as a tweet and this one as a blog entry. Does that work. Sorry, I’m only 4 years old and can’t follow instructions.
donated. thank you for setting this up!
i tweeted about it and emailed 20 co workers to help donate!!!!
i donated!
I donated – under my Hub’s name in paypal (in case this post doesn’t match up w/ the donation, hehe).
Tweeted, too! @MereD19
Donated, posted to my FB, and am praying for this family.
(donated under hubby’s name via paypal too in case that makes a diff?)
You are so amazing for putting this all together. Sam is always in my thoughts and prayers as is his family. I can’t imagine going through this as a mother myself. I made a donation and will be sending to other’s to do the same.
There I also tweeted and I’m off to blog. I will also share on Facebook.
I donated! Sending lots of love & prayers Sam’s way.
I tweeted!
@happymomtoboys
Thanks for doing this, Jill! I donated.
Do we know if they have tried to get in to St. Judes, my boss is on one the Boards? St. Judes is the best cancer center in the world for children. Please use my contact email.
Donated, and tweeted @kristakm
Will spread the word!!
and thanks for doing this – ’tis fabulous!
Donated. I hope it helps a little…
I hope Sam’s family reads this because this comment is for them. You MUST get in touch with a friend of mine, Anna O’Connor. Anna is a 24 year old girl who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when she was 17. She has so far defied every odd against her and has survived for seven years with this disease. She is an amazing, amazing girl who has dedicated her life to helping children like Sam by going through experimental treatment after experimental treatment.
You can find her at annabanana.org. She will encourage you so much!!!!
I’ll be praying for Sam.
Lord, have mercy! Sweet baby…
Donated and Tweeted.
http://www.twitter.com/rarari
Praying for Sam and his family. I just donated.
I donated and am so glad I could chip in even a little bit.
I tweeted and will encourage others to do so.
http://twitter.com/AJDplusThree/status/14948215765
Donated!
Thank you for setting this up! I just donated (andrehka). Will be praying for Sam and his family!
Donated and tweeted.
http://www.twitter.com/unlikelymama
About to add the button to my blog.
Just twitted as well (@silencenoise)
I donated $50 dollars to help Sam!
Also Tweeted with my account (@Tempestbeauty) and my son’s account (@KnowRonan).
Love and thoughts and happiness to Sam and family. <3
A bunch of us Longhorn fans at Orangebloods.com have been donating the past few days. What a cute kid.
Oh my word. I cannot imagine what this family is going through. This family is in my prayers….thank goodness they’re getting good care for that beautiful little boy.
I would really like to share with the family that COBRA assistance is available through the federal stimulus package and they can check it out right here: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsCOBRApremiumreduction.html
We’ve had to use the COBRA assistance for the past four months since my husband was laid off…it meant our health care bill went from $1500/month to only $270/month. I know that Congress might not continue this program but perhaps if they sign up before the end of May? I wanted to share this information since every little bit helps.
I just donated & tweeted.
Thanks for setting this up so we can help.
hi! i tweeted and donated. glad i could help!
I donated, blog about the cause, and purchased some items from the auction.
All my love to Baby Sam and his family. Even though I only “met” Cassie during this fundraiser (although I’ve read her posts on The Bump for a while) she’s been incredibly kind and gracious and funny. I’ll admit to only donating and spamming my Twitter feed to death because it feels amazingly good to know I’m doing something positive for a family who deserves it. I’m selfish that way.