Meet 10 NJ Families Who Had To Crowdfund For Healthcare

A decorated Vietnam War veteran who can’t afford his wife’s cancer treatments. A couple who face huge medical expenses for their infant twins. A boy injured in a serious dirt bike crash with “a long road of recovery ahead and a lot of doctor bills.”

These are the stories of New Jersey residents and their families, each of whom are fighting a heartbreaking battle against a common foe: their hospital bills.

As record numbers of Americans scramble to sign up for health care coverage before the open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act ends on Dec. 15, scores of New Jersey residents continue to share stories on the internet about their struggles with medical bills.

Those on Obamacare aren’t the only ones facing difficult battles to pay for loved ones’ treatment. Many families in the state – some on government health insurance plans and some with plans that won’t cover essential treatments - have taken their stories online, asking for help paying the bills via online fundraisers on sites like GoFundMe and YouCaring.

• See related article: This Is What's At Stake If Obamacare Is Repealed, NJ Mom Says By Tweeting Staggering Bill

Read about the stories of 10 Garden State families who say they’re fighting sky-high medical bills below.

DECORATED VET CAN’T AFFORD WIFE’S TREATMENT

Hudson County resident Anthony Restivo Jr. is a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran who has earned a Purple Heart and a Silver Star. But despite the medals on his uniform, the health coverage that his government is offering in return for his service isn't enough to cover the medical costs of his wife's cancer treatments, he says.

• Read the full article here: N.J. Vet Earned Purple Heart, But Can't Cover Wife's Cancer Treatment

INFANT'S HEART TRANSPLANT

"Our 20-week ultrasound was supposed to be one of the happiest days of our lives," Hoboken resident Stephanie Cohen wrote. "Unfortunately, after finding out the gender, the doctor also had some devastating news to tell us… We were informed that something was wrong with our sweet baby girl's heart."

• See related article: Hoboken Infant Needs Heart Transplant
• See related article: Grieving Parents Seek 'New Normal' After Infant's Death

CORRECTIONS OFFICER DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

"I am starting this fundraiser because Joe and Kelly will be facing some incredible medical expenses and their home expenses will become difficult as well, as Kelly is not able to work while she stays by Joe's side," a fundraiser for Joseph Graf, a state Department of Corrections officer based in Bordentown stated.

• Read the full article here: NJ Corrections Officer Diagnosed With Brain Tumor

OFFICER'S MEDICAL EXPENSES EXCEED BENEFITS

Brett Hansen, 28, a patrol officer for the Toms River Police Department since August 2015, suffered life-threatening injuries Jan. 4 when his Dodge Avenger hit the rear of a tractor-trailer in the right lane of the Parkway as he drove toward his home in Brick.

Hansen faces a lengthy recovery, his mother, Lori Hansen, wrote on a GoFundme campaign the family created in an effort to cover medical expenses that exceed his health benefits.

• Read the full article here: Fundraisers Continue For Injured Toms River Police Officer

BEAR ATTACKS SCOUTMASTER

A Boonton man and scoutmaster encountered a bear when he took a look inside a cave during a hike in Rockaway Township. What he didn't expect was a black bear to be inside, which in turn defended its territory and attacked him.

His family sought help with expenses for ongoing treatments to assist with wound care, often not covered by health insurance.

• Read the full article here: Fundraiser Launched For Morris Man Attacked By Bear

TWINS NEED MEDICAL CARE

At a 12-week medical appointment, a New Jersey couple learned one of their twins had split into identical twins, meaning Susan Morales was unexpectedly pregnant with triplets. At her 24-week checkup, doctors diagnosed the twins with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. A GoFundme campaign helped the family with the burden of those expenses.

But getting the twins closer to home, which will ease both the emotional and financial stress on the family, is a daunting task.

• Read the full article here: Help This Beachwood Family's Twin Boys Fly Home

FIREFIGHTER FIGHTS LUNG CANCER

James "Jim" Vandemark, a Point Pleasant firefighter who never smoked, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. According to his family, he cannot work and needs help with medical bills.

"This man is a very proud man, but he has been one of the best assets this town has and I know that we will help him in this trying time,” Mayor Robert Sabosik said.

• Read the full article here: Point Pleasant Volunteer Fireman Diagnosed With Lung Cancer

BOY INJURED IN DIRT BIKE ACCIDENT

The family of a boy who was severely injured in a dirt bike accident at Johnson's Pit in Bayville asked people to contribute to a GoFundMe account.

"He will have a long road of recovery ahead and a lot of doctor bills,” the boy’s supporters wrote. “Please help him and his family out in this tough time.”

• Read the full article here: Berkeley Boy Badly Injured In Dirt Bike Accident

YOUNG MAN BATTLES CANCER

A young Glen Rock man’s battle against cancer forced him to drop out of college, his family says.

“There is so much more fight to come as this will be a long and expensive endeavor with many uncertainties in front of us,” the teen’s father wrote after leaving his job last year to help his son fight the disease.

• Read the full article here: Fundraiser Launched For Glen Rock Man Battling Cancer

WOMAN FIGHTS BONE MARROW DISEASE

If you look at her Facebook page, Jennifer Jimenez, whom everybody described as "full of life," was the kind of person who told other people about GoFundMe pages. Now there's one for her.

After numerous blood tests, unsuccessful treatments, two painful bone marrow biopsies, eight platelet and three red blood cell transfusions, the Fair Lawn woman was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia.

• Read the full article here: N.J. Woman Fights For Her Life

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