It Takes a Village
Sitting in the northwest corner of the U.S., Stanwood, Washington is about an hour north of Seattle. With easy access to the city and nature, Darlene says she’s grateful to live in such a beautiful part of the world.
“It’s a great place to live and to visit,” Darlene said.
Darlene and her husband live with their daughter, who is a nurse at a downtown hospital.
“My husband is absolutely a godsend. He’s just wonderful,” she said. “We have the best possible situation.”
Darlene loves to stay active in her community, spending time with her friends, family, and church group.
“Everyone is so kind and supportive, making phone calls and checking in on us,” Darlene said.
Darlene has lived with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for several years. When she saw the out-of-pocket costs for her treatment, she was stunned. Her copay alone was more than $700 a month on top of travel and other medical expenses.
“I thought, ‘I’ll just have to die because I can’t afford the medication,’” Darlene said. “My treatment is crucial.”
When she learned about The Assistance Fund (TAF), an independent charitable patient assistance organization that helps patients and their families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, Darlene said she was relieved.
“TAF acted like they cared about me as a human being,” she said. “I was not another statistic calling. I was a human being with an issue who could be helped.”
TAF’s Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Copay Assistance Program provides financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for prescribed FDA-approved treatment, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. It wasn’t long — just a few minutes — before she was approved.
“I was so grateful,” Darlene said.
Darlene credits her wellbeing to her strong sense of faith, supportive family and friends, and the caring healthcare professionals who ensure she has access to the treatment she needs.
“It takes a village,” Darlene said. “Not just for children, but for senior citizens, too.”
