Over the past few years, the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation has been able to help dozens of young women by providing financial assistance to those who ask. The foundation struggles to provide this assistance, yet we've never turned down a single request.

Testimonials:

In April 2007, I was diagnosed with stage 3A invasive ductal carcinoma. This was 2 months before my 28th birthday. As a young woman just starting a family, there was no way we could have prepared ourselves for this kind of change in our lives, emotionally, physically, and/or financially. But when life gives you lemons you just make lemonade!

Anyway it only took a few weeks after diagnosis and surgery to start accumulating bill after bill after bill. And as a middle class family with good health insurance there just weren't many breaks, until God led me to the Kristy Lasch Foundation. I am thankful that the only criteria is that you are under 30, no questions about income were asked. This was a huge blessing in the middle of one of the biggest storms of my life. The Kristy Lasch Foundation was a God-send.

I have now been cancer free for about 18 months and counting. There are still a few medical bills left but God is good. I am just proud to be able to celebrate another Christmas season with my family and friends and to know that life is worth living!!!!
Thanks,
V.  


I picked up a pamphlet about your foundation last week at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York right before I was to receive my 7th chemotherapy treatment. When at home, I read about Kristy and her goal of developing the Miracle foundation and was astonished to find what similarities our stories share. I was 27 years old, and two months away from my medical school graduation at the time of my diagnosis. During my recovery from surgery I began keeping an online journal that I am now seeking to turn into a book about my experience. Also, like Kristy adopting Miracle the cat, I adopted Nina, a 5-year old cocker spaniel mix from a shelter and she has proved to be an important companion through my recovery. Overall, I am hoping to find the ‘silver linings’ of this dreadful experience and to make a positive outcome from my experience with cancer.

While the offers for emotional support have been numerous, I have not encountered anyone yet who can address the specific challenges of being a woman in her 20’s undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I have gone to a few meetings of support groups at the hospital and yet often feel alone in trying to come to terms with the practical realities my diagnosis has created. In the spring, facing 16 weeks of chemotherapy, I made the decision to defer starting my medical internship – arguably the most rigorous year of medical training – in order to finish my chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. I am hoping that the remainder of my treatment will be smoother than it has been thus far and that this year of healing will be a productive one before I am able to start my residency in July 2009.

The financial burdens however, despite being insured, have been tremendous. I survived on my student stipend for four years but it ran out in May with my graduation. A small loan that I took out to cover residency interviewing and relocation costs consumed in late April with treatment-related expenses. My parents are only modestly able to provide assistance because my father is semi-retired and paying college tuition for my younger brother. Office visit co-pays, prescription costs, over-the-counter medication charges have added up and I am unable to meet them as well as my very modest living expenses. I have recently succeeded in finding a mentor and sponsor for a research project that I will pursue involving gynecologic cancers during the upcoming year. However, any assistance that you would be able to provide towards my treatment-related expenses and the debt it has generated would be a huge relief and would allow me to focus on recovery and my academic endeavors.
Thank you,
A.B.  


The very generous grant from your foundation arrived over the weekend and lifted a tremendous weight off my shoulders (very tired shoulders). I am happy to be able to look forward to the upcoming months of my treatment without having to worry about how to pay for some of the immense costs that have accumulated since this nightmare began in March.

I am now working towards helping to find treatments for gynecologic cancers as well as my applications to medical residency programs and perhaps turning my writings into a book about what it is like to undergo cancer diagnosis and treatment as a medical student.

Without having met her, I can tell a lot about your daughter’s character that she aspired to help others affected by this disease at a young age. This is such a personal experience but is made much easier by being able to speak with others and know that you are less alone. I hope to be that sounding board and support to others that I encounter.

I regret that we had to be linked by this horrible disease but am immensely grateful for your generosity, warmth, and support.
All the best,
A.B.


I must tell you that even though I haven’t kept in touch, I think of Kristy and the two of you so often.

I will certainly pick up a copy of the book “The Empty Cup Runneth Over” and if we are still here on the 4th of September I will attend the book signing. I look forward to reading the book – it will probably make a lovely gift as well.

I did take time to look at the site and will continue to do so whether we are in Miami or Anderson, SC. It’s a nice site and I’m going to forward it.

Take good care of each other – know you will.
Love,
S.M.  


I hope this email finds you well. It was certainly great to hear from you and all the great things that are happening with the foundation. I would love to go to the book signing and intend on purchasing the book. There isn’t a Friday that goes by when I am buying my weekly lottery ticket for the “lottery ladies” that I don’t think about helping out the foundation when we hit it big. Say your prayers!
Take care,
K


Thank you for ALL of your prayers and the sweetest letter – B and I both got choked up by your extreme concern on our behalf. Thank you for honoring and celebrating my girl on Mother’s Day. As B said, how do they go on, and then said – “I think you and Dad would do the exact same thing if something happened to me”.

Gulp

Your story about Kris’ journal was so obviously MEANT TO BE. Wow! Kristy’s words are MEANT to go out to others. What a disguised blessing especially for you and your husband. I can’t even imagine how emotional reading her exact inner thoughts at her worst times must have been for you.
Love, lots of it, to you
L  


Thank you so much for the generous check to help pay for my continuing medical bills. I am so humbled to be a recipient of funds donated to your daughter’s miracle foundation. Your financial help has been a miracle to me & my family and I am so grateful. Thank you again for your help & for standing with me as I seek to beat this horrible disease. I will never give up.
God bless,
B


I wanted to encourage you TODAY as I made a note that your biggest fundraiser in memory of your dear daughter, Kristy, is TODAY… a heartfelt prayer has been made that loads of funds will come in so that your “miracle” foundation can help others just like you helped B. We will never forget both your tangible help AND your personal advice as we went through a living hell.
With great respect,
L.A.  


I cried when I read your daughter’s story online. My mom had told me about her and all she accomplished while battling cancer, but I had yet to read her story for myself. Thank you for sharing it on the website and thank you for creating a foundation in her memory to help young women like myself with breast cancer.

Praise the Lord, I finished up my last chemotherapy treatment in March (2008) and I continue to take the Tamoxifen pill everyday for the next 4 years. I still have regular mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI’s and physical exams. My next MRI is coming up in a few weeks – we pray that all remains clear.

I wanted to thank you again for the financial help you provided to me in the past. Thank you for your kind consideration, B.A.   I can’t begin to express my gratitude for both the monetary and emotional support you’ve given me and my family. We are forever grateful. Thank you both so, so much.
Yours,
A.H.  


When Mr. Lasch answered the phone this afternoon, I knew I was talking to a special man. His kind voice listened to what I had to say and offered much support. As a young breast cancer survivor, I have felt very supported, but never understood. Today I finally felt like someone knew how it felt to have a young life affected in such a traumatic way.

I am a leader by nature, and want to someday make an impact on other young breast cancer survivors. The strength that you show is inspirable.

Whether you choose to help me or not, I want you to know that just by answering the phone you helped me. You helped me feel understood, and gave me strength to fight. To fight for not only myself, but for Kristy and many others that have fought hard.

A little about my situation. I am 27, post surgery, going through chemo, and have radiation in my future. I have a 3 year old son, work full time, and am trying my best to stay afloat during this hard economical time. I am also getting married July 23, bald head and all!

I believe everything happens for a reason. There is a reason I have to fight, there is a reason you were forced to be strong, and I hope to be able to support "Miracle" someday.

Thank you sincerely for all you do for the fighters out there. You are truly a "Miracle".
Best wishes,
A.M.  


We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere feelings of appreciation for the financial support we received from your organization. Since the dreaded diagnosis back in August, we suddenly found ourselves in a situation of financial instability due to the endless medical-related expenses. By this act of true kindness and by showing that Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation really does care, your support was not only a financial one but an emotional one too. We thank you very much with all our hearts and wish you a future of much blessing and success.
Sincerely,
M & W