Health & Wellness
Gifts of encouragement and support.
Our Memorial Health Foundation offers the Oncology Patient Financial Assistance Program to financially assist patients receiving oncology care at Memorial Health. Our hope is to alleviate some of the financial burden for patients so they may focus on their health while undergoing cancer treatment.
The program is backed by generous corporate and individual contributors, special fundraisers, as well as dollars from the United Way of Union County as a Funded Partner.
Ways we can help.
Our program supports oncology patients of Memorial Health with financial assistance in three areas:
- $200/Year Per Patient – Appointment Co-Pays, Co-Insurance, and Deductibles
- $600/Year Per Patient – Prescriptions
- $400/Year Per Patient – Transportation
“Blessed. Honored. So very, very grateful.”
These are the words Marysville-native Karla Holton repeatedly expressed as she spoke about her cancer journey at Memorial Health over the last three years. Diagnosed in March 2021 with stage four renal cell carcinoma, in April Karla underwent kidney removal surgery for a seven-centimeter tumor in her left kidney, and quickly began immunotherapy in May. Today, there is no evidence of disease and Karla is enjoying every moment of her life.
But she is quick to reflect back on her experiences and the Memorial team members who were there by her side.
Karla and her husband, Rich, began hiking during the pandemic, like so many of us. Following a short hike one day, Karla experienced some nagging back pain with blood in her urine later that evening. After an urgent appointment with her physician, Dr. Michael Shaffer at Memorial Family Medicine | Mill Valley, Karla was immediately sent for a CT scan. She still marvels how the results came in late Friday night and Dr. Shaffer called her immediately with the news – he arranged appointments with Dr. Michael Jordan at Memorial Urology first thing on Monday morning and Tuesday was scheduled with Dr. Robert Rupert at Memorial Oncology & Hematology. She knew instantly she had a focused, caring team on her side.
Her smile widens as she talks of her medical team – Dr. Jordan? “Oh, how I love him!” Dr. Rupert? “He is wonderful – I can’t imagine this journey without him!” Dina Hill of the Oncology Team is “My navigator of every step.” The oncology nursing team is “top-notch.” And Jenna Hoffman, CNP, is “So wonderful – a breath of reassuring, calming air.”
Karla got to know this team quite well through her immunotherapy regimen – with a daily targeted medication on top of a monthly immunotherapy infusion. During this time, Karla and Rich relocated to the Miamisburg area, to be closer to their daughter, Bethany, and her young family. But Karla insisted that her care remain at Memorial – a non-negotiable, she says.
But those many, many trips were taxing on their already increasing medical bills. Here’s where her team steps up again. Devyn Bollack, a Pharmacy Financial Navigator at Memorial, suggested Karla apply for mileage assistance with Memorial’s Oncology Patient Financial Assistance Program (OPFAP). She was awarded funds to help with mileage to her immunotherapy appointments – an outcome that “meant the world” to her.
Today, Karla is back to hiking when she can, with some limitations. Her best advice? “Find a support system who will be with you every step of the way. For me – it is, and continues to be, my family; my childhood friend, Pam; and my team at Memorial. They are my everything.”
Is helping patients like Karla a passion of yours? We invite you to discover more about our Oncology Patient Financial Assistance Program.
Memorial is a member of The James Cancer Network at Ohio State – learn about our state-of-the-art cancer care.
