Kids & Family
Meet 9 NJ Families Who Crowdfunded To Pay Medical Bills In 2019
These New Jersey families launched online fundraisers to cope with unexpected, heartbreaking medical bills. Many had health care insurance.
MONTCLAIR, NJ — When a New Jersey couple found their 6-month-old son unresponsive and seizing, it was like a nightmare come true. But as Melissa and Joey Rodriguez rallied at their child's side, they also found themselves fighting another battle at the same time: crushing medical expenses.
Unfortunately, their story was not unique in 2019.
About a year ago, Patch shared stories from 10 New Jersey families who were forced to launch online fundraisers to cope with unexpected medical bills. Since then – if crowdfunding campaigns are any indication – things haven’t gotten much better.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- See related article: Meet 10 NJ Families Who Had To Crowdfund For Healthcare
According to GoFundMe, it hosts more than 250,000 medical campaigns every year. Those fundraisers take in more than $650 million in donations.
In New Jersey last year, people seeking help for medical bills on GoFundMe included teachers, police officers and parents. Many found themselves in need of financial help despite having health care insurance, they said.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Read nine stories about Garden State residents who battled medical bills with crowdfunding in 2019.
Community Rallies Around Bridgewater Teacher Battling Cancer
Mike Gilmore, who lives in Bridgewater and teaches in Basking Ridge, was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of cancer. He had some of the tumor removed but it grew back at a rapid rate.
The community rallied for Gilmore, a father and husband who was forced to take leave from his teaching job. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help them cope with mounting medical expenses.
GoFundMe Created For Warren Student In Critical Condition
A community rallied behind John Thomas Torrisi, a third grade student at Woodland Elementary School in Warren who fell into a coma after suffering bleeding in his brain. He was transferred to Morristown Memorial's Pediatric ICU for urgent care. It was found that J.T. had also suffered two small strokes.
A GoFundMe was created to help offset medical bills during his recovery and anticipated therapy.
Fundraiser Created For Hospitalized Fair Lawn Teen
A well-respected and hardworking student at Fair Lawn High School was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. He was put in a medically-induced coma at Hackensack University Medical Center, and has dealt with other serious complications.
"As a community, please let us raise funds for the Alexander family as the medical expenses will be astronomical," fundraisers said on a GoFundMe page. "Let the one and only thing on their minds be spending every moment by Tommy's side."
Former Lacey Cop Stays Upbeat Through Stage 4 Cancer Battle
David Supsie's job required putting his life on the line for others. The former Lacey police officer adapted this courage to battle stage 4 colon cancer, managing to keep a positive mindset while doing so.
Supsie underwent surgery in an attempt to remove a tumor, according to Lacey Police Captain Patrick Ganley, who created a GoFundMe for Supsie's medical expenses. Unfortunately, doctors couldn't remove the tumor due to its advanced stage.
Bridgewater Boy's Nose May Need Years Of Work After Dog Attack
It will take months if not years of surgeries and procedures to reconstruct an 11-year-old Bridgewater boy's nose that was bitten off by a dog in Wildwood.
A GoFundMe collected money for the family to help cover hospital bills, surgeon costs, travel expenses, lodging and counseling costs.
"Our family would like to thank everyone for all the prayers, love and support. It makes a difference to see all the people in the world with such kind and compassionate hearts. Our son is in great spirits and greatly appreciates all the love he has received," the family said.
Mom Refuses To Give Up After Bergen Baby Suffers Multiple Strokes
It was every parent's worst nightmare.
Melissa and Joey Rodriguez of Northvale found their 6-month-old son, Kash unresponsive, seizing and cyanotic. He was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center after suffering multiple strokes and a brain stem herniation, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched to help the family.
Thousands of dollars in donations will help pay for medical expenses and assist the family with meals, childcare and time missed from work, according to the fundraiser's organizer.
Gordon Ramsay Surprises Ocean County Girl Fighting Cancer
Beachwood 12-year-old Kallista Flores got a big boost from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in her battle against b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
When Kallista entered the room where Ramsay was waiting, she let out a scream and ran to him and hugged him. "She would stimulate her appetite just by watching his show," her father said.
A GoFundMe was set up to benefit the family. Flores' father worked for Manchester Township before she got sick, and though co-workers donated time off to help out, he ran out of sick time while she was still in the hospital. His wife, Jodi, works for the U.S. Postal Service, but the bills, even with insurance coverage, have been enormous.
Brick Memorial Teacher Battles Medical Condition
Margaret Mussel, who has been an Italian teacher for 12 years and is the adviser for the Italian National Honor Society at Brick Memorial High School, was diagnosed with a serious medical condition just after Christmas 2018, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help defray medical expenses.
After spending Christmas with her husband and two sons, Mussel's speech was inexplicably slurred and her husband took her to the hospital, wrote Nicollette Burger, the family friend who started the campaign.
"What happened next could only be described as earth-shattering," Burger wrote.
Fundraiser Created For Ridgewood Boy Severely Burned On Vacation
Fifteen-year-old Danny Kovac was visiting his grandparents in Konjic in Bosnia and Herzegovina when he was shocked by a live electrical wire.
A fundraiser was set up to help the Ridgewood High School student's family cope with the cost of his medical evacuation to the Cornell Weill Burn Center in New York City.
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