Community Rallies To Help Lifelong West Islip Resident

WEST ISLIP, NY - Lifelong West Islip resident Kelly McLoughlin Fisher has always done a lot for the community -- and now local residents are returning the favor.

Kelly has always been a staple in her local community. In fact, she is so well known she has been referred to by some as the "Mayor of West Islip," according to her husband, Roy Fisher.

The couple are both lifelong residents and graduates from West Islip High School's class of 1986. Kelly also previously worked for 23 years as Director of HR operations at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip until April 2012.

After that she worked Executive Director of Pronto of Long Island in nearby Bay Shore, one of the largest community outreach organizations, where they assisted thousands of local neighbors in need with food clothing and shelter.

Currently, she works as the Suffolk County Supervisor at United Healthcare community plan where her team assists folks in getting health insurance.

"When you mention Kelly McLoughlin Fisher people know to go to her for whatever their needs are health insurance food shelter clothing," Roy said. "I remember when Verizon folks were on strike she directed her team to help hundreds of Suffolk County residents in their time of need while on strike."

However, Kelly had to take a break from helping out the local community where her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer recently. While Kelly was focused on helping her mother recover, she ended up with her own health problems.

Last month, Kelly was hospitalized for a week after contracting pneumonia. As a result, she has been out of work for 3 weeks and still does not know when she can get back to work, according to her husband.

As Kelly provides the UHC community plan for those in need, the couple's insurance plan requires "astronomical" deductibles for out of pocket max prescriptions and provider physician bills, according to Roy.

Currently, their bills are totaling $12,000 and counting.

"It's important for people to know that one health crisis can wipe out a families savings in an instant," Roy said.

In order to help, a close friend of Kelly's, Eddie Haeffer started an online fundraiser on YouCaring to help the two raise money.

The page is trying to raise the full $12,000 to cover the bills. As of Tuesday, a total of $2,085 has been raised.

"As most of you know Kelly is a compassionate person who always pays it forward however and whenever she is able to," he wrote on the page.

Kelly is "humbled" by the fact that people are working to help her.

"She is always on the other side of the counter so to speak, lending her time to a million different charities and people in need," Roy said. "Her motto is 'pay it forward' and she feels like her good deeds are coming back around to her - good things come to good people."

To learn more or to donate, visit the YouCaring page here.