Uninsured woman fighting cancer

SANDPOINT — A fundraiser has been established for a Clark Fork woman who is fighting cancer without insurance.

Julie McCasland underwent six months of chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma before doctors declined further treatment until a positron emission tomography scan is done to determine whether they are working or not.

“Nobody’s wanting to help us get that PET scan,” said McCasland’s daughter, Danae.

Despite being two-thirds the way through a high-risk pregnancy, Denae McCasland is leading the fundraising effort. She set up a web page entitled “A daughter’s wish” at GiveForward.com and is putting out donation jars in the community.

Danae McCasland said as much as $5,000 is needed for the PET scan. Only $30 has been raised so far and the fundraiser ends on Dec. 1. Then there’s the matter of treatment costs Julie McCasland has already amassed.

“The bills are just stacking up in my mom’s name,” Danae McCasland said.

The twice-a-month chemotherapy treatment cost about $2,000.

Danae McCasland said her mother has been repeatedly denied Social Security benefits, although another hearing on the issue is set for next month.

The long-time stay-at-home mother is unable to get out of bed, but she’s not letting the benefits denial go.

“She’s still fighting it,” her daughter said.

Danae McCasland is bewildered by the difficulty in obtaining assistance for somebody diagnosed with a fatal illness.

“It’s about the money instead of trying to save this person’s life,” said Danae McCasland.

n http://www.giveforward.com/adaughterswi