Applications for grants to help pay the bills after a gut-punch from a cancer diagnosis have jumped 70% in the last month.
That’s according to the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, named after the former Super Bowl-winning Patriot offensive lineman who beat cancer himself.
“I think it’s the economy,” said Andruzzi at his fundraiser this week. “We’re seeing it. The need is there.”
The spread of cancer is also there. A Dana-Farber Cancer Institute cancer fighter warns more people are coming down with the disease every day.
That’s the case for Emma Morson and her husband, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jahlani Morson.
Emma, 26, is battling a brain tumor, where she said “faith” has replaced “hope” as the young couple grasp for the joy every day can bring.
“We’re both fighting, but this is a different type of war,” said the Lance Corporal, who said the Marines have taught him to deal with stress, “but this is different. I had to learn to transfer what the Marines taught me.”
With his ever-smiling wife by his side, the couple shared at the Andruzzi event that being a recipient of a grant to help with the bills, from a gas card to help with college loan payments, gives them added spirit to keep pushing.
“They are awesome,” said Emma, who added that her brother ran the Boston Marathon for the organization to raise money and her twin sister and parents are all doing all they can.
To date, the Andruzzi Foundation has given out $14.5 million in grants to help cancer patients pay the little bills that creep up when you’re focused on chemo and medical bills. That’s about 60,000 families helped, they say.
Jen Andruzzi, the force behind the foundation, told the Herald the stark increase in applications for help is the result of more cancer diagnoses, especially in the younger population who have yet to budget for the unexpected.
“Younger patients just don’t have as much savings,” Jen added, “and we are seeing those needing the help after coming down with breast or colon cancer.”
Early-onset cancer — those under 50 — has surged, with women carrying “a heavier cancer burden than men,” according to the National Library of Medicine.
And the costs can cripple young families — with estimated cancer-related medical costs in the first year from $43,000 to $190,000 depending on the type of cancer. For the Morsons, Emma’s brain tumor places them in that highest range.
But there is hope, especially in Greater Boston, which is home to some of the leading cancer-fighters in the world.
“We have made tremendous strides in recent years to better treat, detect and in many cases, cure cancer. However, incidence of cancer in the United States continues to increase, meaning the need to support patients to get through treatment and continue to live their lives to the fullest possible, increases as well,” said Dr. Ann Partridge, vice chair of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber.
Rachel Goodwin, Emma’s mom, said the Raynam family can’t say enough about the goodwill sent their way by the Andruzzi Foundation.
“They can make a patient happy if it’s even just for a moment with help with a grocery bill, or transportation,” she said.
“The cost of living and the cost of health insurance is daunting for someone diagnosed with cancer,” added Joe Destefano, chairman of the Andruzzi Foundation, who said the 70% spike in grant requests is a direct result of gas bills, phone bills, the mortgage or rent, food and every other little charge he said results in “50% diagnosed going bankrupt.”
That’s why the Andruzzi Foundation has added the Unicorn link to its website to pool resources so applicants can scan other grants open to cancer patients. The Ellie Fund, for breast cancer, Blood Cancer United, A Wish Come True, A Kid Again, and Lasagna Love giving help with dinners and more all dwell here.
The page is a who’s who of heroes in our state: The Love Bus, “delivering comfort & connection,” Needy Meds, Sail Beyond Cancer USA, Cancer 1 Source, and Joe’s House, for those needing lodging while traveling for treatment.
“There’s a power in numbers,” explained Destefano.
And, not going unnoticed, Emma and her lance corporal were honored by the foundation on the 251st birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, on Nov. 10, 1775. Semper Fidelis, means remaining faithful to the mission, to the country, and to fellow Marines forever.
Emma added, from the sidelines of the fundraiser, that she told her soon-to-be husband that if she had a cancerous tumor as suspected, she’d call off the marriage. He didn’t abide.
They are in this fight together.
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