Greenwood woman needs help now
07-14-09
Brent and Melissa Lewis of Greenwood
Lee's Summit Tribune Photo / Fred Poese
Greenwood woman needs help now
Leah Morgan, Lee's Summit Tribune Contributing Writer
Melissa Lewis, a Greenwood resident, wife and mother of two needs help from the community. Melissa unexpectedly contracted Hepatitis and her health has been rapidly declining ever since. Melissa’s husband has recently lost his job, their house is undergoing foreclosure proceedings and they do not have a vehicle. The family is seeking help from you.
With no medical insurance, Melissa started out seeking treatment at Truman hospital. Truman realized that her condition was more serious than what they were capable of dealing with and transferred her to KU Med center, where she was hopeful to be placed on the liver transplant list, but she may not be eligible. Melissa says, “The cost of the procedure is $320,000 and the medication I have to be put on for the rest of my life is $5000 a month. They can’t give an organ to someone who can’t afford the medicines to support the transplant. KU Med has been great to do what they have for me so far, but there’s only so much they can do without insurance”.
While Melissa is in the process of applying for Medicaid, it can take over 60 days to get approval. It’s 60 days she fears she may not have. Even if she were to be approved for Medicaid, they would only pay a portion of the costs. She is currently taking antibodies to keep her liver stable, which cost $300 a month and has to get rides to the doctor every other day for blood tests. Doctors are calling her condition life threatening. She may not survive without a transplant. Melissa is a member of the Heaven’s Gate Gospel Church in Lee’s Summit, and her pastor, Jim Wining, has been fully investing himself to help this family. He says, “I believe the Lord will find someone to help this family out. They are such good people and we just want to reach out to the community for help. It is hard to know that money is the only thing that may keep a mother from being with her children.”
Several fundraisers are in the planning stages for Melissa, but they could certainly use your help right now. If you can make a donation of money, or even a vehicle the family could use to transport Melissa for treatments, please contact Pastor Wining at 816-217-3307. Donations could also be sent to Heaven’s Gate Gospel Church at 1221 SE Broadway Dr,# F, Lees Summit, MO 64081. 816-347-9179. Email: 3mule@msn.com If you have anything to give, this little family could truly benefit from your kindness and you could perhaps help to save a life.
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