Parents of a 15-year-old girl who is battling a rare form of bone cancer have revealed they were forced to take out loans to pay for gas to drive her to her life-saving treatments.
Keith and Analiza Vincent’s daughter Jinger was diagnosed with osteosarcoma more than a year ago and has undergone chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, including a partial femur replacement and recent lung surgery.
The family has to travel up to an hour away from their home in rural Indiana to take Jinger to her medical and physical recover therapy broken arrow – http://www.quponing.com/katy-tx/health-1/reach-stretch-and-recovery – appointments, which are nearly every other day.
Keith, 63, and Analiza, 54, told they spend more than $200 a week fueling their vehicle after the recent surge in gas prices. To cover the costs, they’ve been cutting back on groceries and relying on short-term, high-interest loans.
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Parents Keith and Analiza Vincent have revealed that they had to take out high-interest loans to pay for gas to take their 15-year-old daughter Jinger to her cancer treatments
Jinger was diagnosed with osteosarcoma more than a year ago and has undergone chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, including a recent lung surgery
‘Let’s pay the mortgage first,’ Analiza said of their first priority. ‘Let’s pay the majority of the bills. But [at] the end of the day, I said, “Wait a minute, we do not have money for gas.” So I end up, like, going [for] the instant cash. That’s our best friend right now.’
Jinger told CBS News that she overhears her parents discussing what bills need to be paid, saying: ‘It just seems so stressful and I just feel bad for them.’
At times, the family has been able to cut down on travel costs by staying near the hospital in temporary housing provided by Ronald McDonald House, a charity that offers financial support to families with sick or injured children.
Keith said ‘it’s tough’ to see his athletic daughter now ‘wasting away in bed,’ which has put their other daily struggles into perspective.
The family has to travel up to an hour away from their home to take Jinger to her medical and physical therapy appointments nearly every other day
Keith, 63, and Analiza, 54, told CBS News they spend more than $200 a week fueling their vehicle after the recent surge in gas prices
‘People have certain bickerings, everyday trials,’ he explained. ‘Oh, rent, food, you know, but you kind of, like, work it out. When you got cancer, that kind of stuff fades away.’
Analiza agreed that they’re not worried they ‘can’t afford certain things’ right now, saying: ‘The big picture is her.’
‘We’re just so overwhelmed with the generosity of people,’ Keith told
Jinger said she overhears her parents discussing what bills need to be paid, saying: ‘It just seems so stressful and I just feel bad for them.’
Keith said ‘it’s tough’ to see his athletic daughter now ‘wasting away in bed,’ and their main focus is her recovery
A GoFundMe page that was started over a year ago to help the family with their financial burden has been inundated with donations following their interview
‘We’ve suddenly got some breathing room now,’ he added. ‘We’re not worried about losing the house or where the next groceries are going to come from.’
Jinger also showed her appreciation in a video that was posted by the outlet at the family’s request.
‘I’m here to say thank you — a massive, massive thank you to everyone,’ the teen said. ‘We cannot express enough how thankful we are, how much gratitude and appreciation we have towards everyone.’
Analiza has since discontinued the GoFundMe page and is urging people to direct their donations to the Ronald McDonald House in South Bend, Indiana.
