Anonymous stranger gives Ottawa woman $128,000 for life-saving treatment

A Stranger Knocked on Her Door and, Without Saying a Word, Handed Her a Life-Changing Envelope That Made Her ‘Collapse’

Suffering from systemic scleroderma, a critical autoimmune disease that causes skin, arteries, veins, and internal organs to harden, 48-year-old single mother Stephanie Headley, of Ottawa, Canada, was in dire need of very expensive, potentially life-saving treatment.
Her condition has been deteriorating over the last few years

But now, there is hope thanks to a Mystery Man....

A critically ill Ottawa mother said she collapsed when a complete stranger showed up at her door and handed her a $128,000 bank draft for a life-saving medical procedure in the U.S.

Twelve years ago, Stephanie Headley was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, a serious autoimmune disease. The disease is causing her skin, arteries, veins and internal organs to harden.

Over the years, Headley’s condition deteriorated and she now requires heavy-duty painkillers every two hours.

The 48-year-old single mother of four found hope in stem cell therapy offered at a Chicago hospital. But the treatment costs US$125,000, so her family launched an online appeal to raise money.

On July 3, a stranger arrived at Headley’s door wearing a cap, big sunglasses and jacket zipped-up all the way to his neck. He did not introduce himself.

Without a word, the man handed Headley an envelope.

“Just as he turned to leave, I said: ‘God bless you,’ and he smiled -- big smile -- and then he turned around and left,” Headley told CTV Ottawa.

At first, they didn't know if the check was real, it was too good to be true
In fact, she says she collapsed on the floor when she saw what was in the envelope

Since then, she has made an appointment for Sept. to start stem cell therapy
Good luck to her and hope the treatment will help her

The identity of her benefactor is still a mystery

The Lord works in mysterious ways
Talk about a generous act of Kindness!!



WOW!!!

Now then, what kind of Health Care does Canada have??

This Lady had to raise her own money for the treatment.....in the US, no less

Is it because it's a new therapy, I wonder?
Not covered by health insurance?

Just curious....

originally posted by: snarky412
Now then, what kind of Health Care does Canada have??

This Lady had to raise her own money for the treatment.....in the US, no less

Is it because it's a new therapy, I wonder?
Not covered by health insurance?

Just curious....

Why? Why are you making this another political argument?

A good person helping another person=failure in healthcare policies.

Be thankful people actually care for other human beings.

Sclerodoma is an awful disease. I've watched a woman die from it. Slow and painful. I wish this woman all the best and send my blessings to the stranger who helped her financially.

originally posted by: rockintitz

originally posted by: snarky412
Now then, what kind of Health Care does Canada have??

This Lady had to raise her own money for the treatment.....in the US, no less

Is it because it's a new therapy, I wonder?
Not covered by health insurance?

Just curious....

Why? Why are you making this another political argument?

A good person helping another person=failure in healthcare policies.

Be thankful people actually care for other human beings.

This is a heart-warming story and I googled a bit about this today and I am happy for the woman.

HOWEVER, the idea is frightening that someone's life literally depends on whether someone can afford a fortune for a life-saving surgery because the majority of people CAN NOT in such a situation.

In such a situation, there is also normally no nice, anonymous angel donating $128,000 unasked TO THE MAJORITY of people. Reality is that likely hundreds of people die daily/monthly because they can't afford medical costs.

While I am very happy for the woman...I think the story is sort-of absurd again. No one's life should depend on their ability to pay a lot of money, in this case for the woman there was literally no other option but dying if it wasn't for a stranger helping her. And I think this is very, very #ed.

Let me say I wish her the best but there is something very wrong with this story.....My mother underwent a stem cell transplant in Dec. 2012. This is what they are referring too. Stem cells are taken from an adult donor whom you must meant a certain criteria of matching parameters with the host. Often this is a stranger who has been matched through a national donor data base. The stem cell procedure itself takes place in the same way a blood transfusion.. The bag of cells are lighter in color than packed Red Blood Cells but infused intravenously into the host body, in this case this mom, in the exact same way.

I can tell you speaking from first hand experience...the stem cell treatment alone cost anywhere from $500,000.00-1.5, 000,000.00....Not to mention the cost of in hospital care. Doctors, labs, and all kinds of test. You must have a team of transplant specialist in order to have stem cell. Then she will not be released from the hospital until she begins making new blood cells, absent the Scleroderma, plus completing a cycle that is usually 45 days. I have witnessed the the entire 45 days first hand since i am a nurse and i spent the night in the room every night with my own mom. to say this no picnic is a huge understatement...Next if able to be discharged it is required that the patient be within a half hours drive from the hospital the transplant was performed in for at least the next 100 days....do you see where I am going with this??? 128,000 is not even enough for the co pay ......all and all after the treatment the entire cost
between 3-5 million.....that was for 16 months of care with the first 100 days being within 30 minutes of hosp.

Scleroderma is a relentless disease not only do you have the veins and arteries hardening and becoming very thick you have all the organs in your entire system hardening from the inside out. Which brings me to my second dilemma with this story. I was not aware there was a permanent treatment for Scleroderma and why stem cell when the entire success of the SC treatment lies in the functioning of the Kidneys and the Liver......This story has many holes in it...

Pax.

Warms my heart! I have a feeling that this is an omen of times to come! Inevitably those with money will want to give back, with increased frequency as well! We are on our way up in the process of the consciousness shift that is all around us!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful story

Very touchy thread. Warms your heart thinking that there is still kindness and goodness in people. But on the quoted part below

originally posted by: snarky412

The Lord works in mysterious ways
Talk about a generous act of Kindness!!

I have to contradict you. Is not the Lord neither his mysterious ways. He wouldn't have given the woman the disease in the first place. It is just human kindness. Let's appreciate for once what we are and have as human without attributing to some fictitious entity or even power.

And the point that will be lost in all of this is why does it cost $128,000?

Ron Paul will tell you its because of government intervention.

Ron Paul was a doctor before government got involved in medicine and said that care was cheap and the quality was excellent. Charity care was never an issue because it simply wasn't a very high cost to absorb so no one was turned away.

Like every other sector which is subsidized by government (medicine, education, housing etc.), prices sky rocket simply because these entities no longer have an incentive to cut costs (or provide quality) when their payment is guaranteed.

originally posted by: snarky412
Now then, what kind of Health Care does Canada have??

This Lady had to raise her own money for the treatment.....in the US, no less

Is it because it's a new therapy, I wonder?
Not covered by health insurance?

Just curious....

The treatment is only available in the US. I don't think there's any healthcare system that covers treatments in other countries. However, if a US citizen (or any foreign national) got sick while in Canada, they'd get medical care just like a Canadian citizen.

originally posted by: snarky412
A Stranger Knocked on Her Door and, Without Saying a Word, Handed Her a Life-Changing Envelope That Made Her ‘Collapse’

Suffering from systemic scleroderma, a critical autoimmune disease that causes skin, arteries, veins, and internal organs to harden, 48-year-old single mother Stephanie Headley, of Ottawa, Canada, was in dire need of very expensive, potentially life-saving treatment.
Her condition has been deteriorating over the last few years

But now, there is hope thanks to a Mystery Man....

A critically ill Ottawa mother said she collapsed when a complete stranger showed up at her door and handed her a $128,000 bank draft for a life-saving medical procedure in the U.S.

Twelve years ago, Stephanie Headley was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, a serious autoimmune disease. The disease is causing her skin, arteries, veins and internal organs to harden.

Over the years, Headley’s condition deteriorated and she now requires heavy-duty painkillers every two hours.

The 48-year-old single mother of four found hope in stem cell therapy offered at a Chicago hospital. But the treatment costs US$125,000, so her family launched an online appeal to raise money.

On July 3, a stranger arrived at Headley’s door wearing a cap, big sunglasses and jacket zipped-up all the way to his neck. He did not introduce himself.

Without a word, the man handed Headley an envelope.

“Just as he turned to leave, I said: ‘God bless you,’ and he smiled -- big smile -- and then he turned around and left,” Headley told CTV Ottawa.

At first, they didn't know if the check was real, it was too good to be true
In fact, she says she collapsed on the floor when she saw what was in the envelope

Since then, she has made an appointment for Sept. to start stem cell therapy
Good luck to her and hope the treatment will help her

The identity of her benefactor is still a mystery

The Lord works in mysterious ways
Talk about a generous act of Kindness!!

WOW!!!

Good,post except the line about god.... I like to think people work in mysterious ways.. Please don't attribute this kind act to a potential fairy tale.

originally posted by: rockintitz

originally posted by: snarky412
Now then, what kind of Health Care does Canada have??

This Lady had to raise her own money for the treatment.....in the US, no less

Is it because it's a new therapy, I wonder?
Not covered by health insurance?

Just curious....

Why? Why are you making this another political argument?

A good person helping another person=failure in healthcare policies.

Be thankful people actually care for other human beings.

I'm not in the 'know' of Canadian healthcare and stated I was curious as to why she had to raise the money herself

It's not a political argument
It's merely a question for someone with knowledge to tell me, so I can learn
As I stated, I was just curious

No need to find an argument there, when there is none
And if you read my OP towards the bottom, you would know I am extremely grateful and wowed by it!!!!!


Much respect~
snarky


------------------------------------------------------
a reply to: Moresby

The treatment is only available in the US. I don't think there's any healthcare system that covers treatments in other countries. However, if a US citizen (or any foreign national) got sick while in Canada, they'd get medical care just like a Canadian citizen

Thank you for your kind reply

a reply to: DigitalResonance
a reply to: Telos

Good,post except the line about god.... I like to think people work in mysterious ways.. Please don't attribute this kind act to a potential fairy tale

I have to contradict you. Is not the Lord neither his mysterious ways.

"the Lord works in mysterious ways"

It's a figure of speech, didn't mean to offend anyone
I've heard it my whole life, not by religious people, just an expression some use
*sigh*

If you check my previous threads, I'm always posting acts of kindness by people when I run across a story
Such as the disabled guy who's wheelchair fell apart at Lowe's and 3 employees helped him by fixing it for him




ETA: Oh and don't judge me by my avi, I'm no Angel!!


---------------------------------------


a reply to: gladtobehere

And the point that will be lost in all of this is why does it cost $128,000?

Ron Paul will tell you its because of government intervention.

That's a very good question....
Guess with it being a limited treatment available, they are going to jack the price up because they can
If one wants it, they will pay for it
Shameful really....

Maybe in time the price will come down

Nice to see someone think outside the box instead of attacking my words

Much appreciation~
snarky

a reply to: paxnatus


Thanks for sharing your story....
My heart goes out to you and your Mother

Appreciate your insight to this procedure/cost and the overall months of what to expect
She's still trying to raise money so maybe that was for the first initial payment, maybe, just to get started?
The article was kinda vague so maybe it's the first phase to receive treatment for her disease


This sounds like a horrific disease and I'm sorry that you have to see your Mom go through this hell
My thoughts and prayers are with you

Much respect~
snarky

a reply to: snarky412

Thank you Snarky. I think you are right with initial cost....but what I think is that she is involved in a grant program....and maybe this is the cost for participation.....but without insurance i still do not know how she will afford the anti rejection pills that are around 800 -2,000 a pill....hopefully she is in a clinical study and that way it would be covered......

This is with any stem cell transplant also known as therapy.....treatment etc.

Unfortunately it is all awful... My mom underwent stem cell for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and the fact is the treatment worked....Sadly she passed away due to complications 9 months following stem cell transplant...Some people make it through though and we had no other choice. Even with chemo. she was given only 5 months.....My mom was in excellent health and always had been...

Seeing that this woman is already pretty bad off, I do not think her chances are too high....she first must undergo chemotherapy to completely wipe out her own immune system...Then following transplant a fight will take place between graft (donor) vs. host (the patient) neither one can over power the other a balance must be forged in order to create and build a healthy immune system which will create brand new cells......

Still miracles have happened and happen everyday I wish her and her family the very best.

Thanks,
Pax

a reply to: paxnatus


Oh I am so very sorry about your Mom's passing....

Lost both my parents when I was younger, Dad to Parkinson's and my Mom, well poor health due to drinking.
Had to watch both of them suffer before they died....hated it!!
Nothing that we could do for them

Sometimes Life can be cruel

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge, I really appreciate it


Much respect~
snarky

a reply to: Moresby

Actually a foreign national would have to pay for any health issues while traveling in Canada. A hospital would want cash or a credit card upfront. If it was a life or death issue, of course they would get treatment right away, but also a pretty big bill.