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Email this StoryAnonymous donor gives $2,300 to help pay for child's medication
Posted - 1/27/2010 at 5:02PM by Kristi Tedesco
Kristi Tedesco - View Bio
TUCSON - Tucsonans are once again reaching into their pockets for people in need, and this time for a family who's son has cystic fibrosis. Wednesday, an anonymous donor gave the family of a child fighting cystic fibrosis $2,300 to help pay for the medications they cannot afford.
Nathan Contreras is 4-years-old and suffers from cystic fibrosis, a debilitating hereditary disease which affects the entire body. Nathan's parents, Leslie and Patrick Contreras, have been able to keep up with his expensive prescriptions until now. They hit a glitch with their prescription drug insurance and are relying on emergency donations to keep their son alive.
Yesterday Nathan's story hit the airwaves when his family reached out on Facebook seeking help. Since our story aired, the generosity has been amazing, and his family is truly grateful.
One donor, who wanted to remain anonymous, met Nathan's family at Walgreens Wednesday morning and paid $2,300 for his medications.
Rebecca Henderson, whose granddaughter has the same condition, donated $50 to Nathan's Paypal website after seeing our story.
"Well my granddaughter has Cystic Fibrosis, and I think it's really important that we support other families that are dealing with the same situation," Rebecca says. "He's such a beautiful little boy and it's really sad that they're having difficulty with insurance, and being able to afford the medication."
4-year-old Nathan Contreras
Nathan's Mom, Leslie Contreras, says, "We thank you very much and for all the support that anybody is offering."
Help is pouring in for a Tucson family who had to resort to rationing their young son's meds because the cost is just too great. When the donations occurred the family quickly spread word that a miracle had happened.
"I called my mom, I called my mother-in-law, and instantly they start crying just thanking god that this has happened," Nathan's mother says.
It couldn't have come at a more amazing time for Nathan, Wednesday was his 5th birthday.
She says, "This is a gift, totally a gift from god."
Soon the money will run out again, and Nathan's mom hopes the donations will continue.
"We pray that people will start listening even beyond our story, just about cystic fibrosis it is a horrific disease, horrific," she says.
Click here to help Nathan Contreras
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crystalangel336 (2 total posts | +4 total karma)
1/28/2010 at 7:13PM
I am glad to hear the little boy got help. Unfortunately there are thousands if not more out there that won't get the help that they need, yet people continue to fight Obama on the Universal Health care. They would rather see families like this suffer at the hands of multi billion dollar insurance companies then see the good and the reality in what he is trying to accomplish. Or the ones that are fighting it are just too selfish to want to help. Thank you good samaritan for reaching out and helping.
awedmanout (1 total posts | -3 total karma)
1/28/2010 at 8:29PM
seriously Crystal? Did you read the story? The bad guys in this story are the same insurance companies that Obama is trying to force us all to support. I voted for Obama because I really believed he wanted to improve health care not give the insurance companies a free ride. Of course we are all glad that a "good Samaritan" came to this boys aid, but it is truly unfortunate that his insurance company was given the green light to put him in the position of need in the first place.
Tree (6 total posts | +5 total karma)
1/29/2010 at 3:14AM
Good to see there are so many good people around in Tucson.
Now if only people like manout would actually read for themselves what is in the health care bill maybe Obama could help people like this family never need charity again.
crystalangel336 (2 total posts | +4 total karma)
1/29/2010 at 5:54AM
Manout. Obama wants to put insurance companies in their place. He is not supporting insurance companies at all. I do not know where you got that information but it is totally incorrect. The healthcare Obama wants would make insurance companies have to decrease their rates and honor their contracts, They would have to supply the needs of the sick instead of denying so many things to the sick. And I am not talking about the total rewrite that the republicans want, not to mention some of the democrats. The polictians that are voting one way in order to receive campaign money and other monies I am sure, from the lobbyists. Insurance companies have been spending an average of 1.3 million dollars a day to stop this bill. Think about it and why they are doing that.
EvenSo (1 total posts | +2 total karma)
1/29/2010 at 7:57AM
Silly reporter (and editor), God is spelled with a capital "G"
pedro (18 total posts | +1 total karma)
1/29/2010 at 10:55AM
i blame bush for this mess.
Tucsonian (5 total posts | +1 total karma)
1/29/2010 at 1:01PM
Although politics does have to do with what is going on in this family (and countless other families) lets take the time to admire the people that stepped up to help. Those of us who beleive in prayer can also continue praying for this family and the rest of the people suffering in this world.
mo (1 total posts | +1 total karma)
1/30/2010 at 2:29PM
There are different medical cards available on line if you google search including caremark and many others which you can subscribe to on plans for as low as 8.95 a month and you get huge savings and discounts of pharmacy prescription drugs savings of thousands per year or even a month depending on the quantity and brand of medication.I wonder if the family is aware of this and could further reduce thier enormous expenditure.Also i am sure the young boy would qualify for full coverage by medicaid since he is fully disabled by this sickness and medicaid covers this category of person aswell as those who have excessive medical expenses regardless of the size of their income.
Atlantya (1 total posts | +1 total karma)
1/30/2010 at 3:07PM
From what I've been able to tell, the "glitch" the family ran into with the insurance company is simply a high deductible - something a lot of us have to deal with and something they're going to have to deal with next year again. I'd sure like to have anonymous donors helping with my yearly high deductible with all of my health care needs. But since I'm not a cute kid that tugs on people's heart strings, I guess that won't be happening.
And as Mo above said, there are other resources for the family. A child this sick qualifies for medicaid since he is fully disabled by his illness.
I do hope this family uses the excess money they're sure to get from all the donations wisely.
old geeser (14 total posts | -17 total karma)
1/30/2010 at 5:11PM
It is such a shame that what this family has to go thru to get this young boy's med's while our government will bring all kind of foreigner's here and supply them with everything for free; no wonder AMERICANS are disalusioned with this country. I hope the boy does well.
miracleeve (2 total posts | +4 total karma)
1/30/2010 at 6:22PM
You say: (awedmanout
1/28/2010 at 8:29PM
seriously Crystal? Did you read the story? The bad guys in this story are the same insurance companies that Obama is trying to force us all to support.)
I read the story, watched the video and I saw or read nothing where this had anything to do with Obama's plan. Tell me where you saw this because, I voted for him too. But, I've heard so many lies and I found research is the best key rather than passing on lies. If this is true, tell me where her insurance glitch is something that Obama has done?
miracleeve (2 total posts | +4 total karma)
1/30/2010 at 6:28PM
You said, "crystalangel336
1/29/2010 at 5:54AM
Manout. Obama wants to put insurance companies in their place. He is not supporting insurance companies at all. I do not know where you got that information but it is totally incorrect.)
I sent this to (awedmanout)
(I read the story, watched the video and I saw or read nothing where this had anything to do with Obama's plan. Tell me where you saw this because, I voted for him too. But, I've heard so many lies and I found research is the best key rather than passing on lies. If this is true, tell me where her insurance glitch is something that Obama has done?)
Why do people spew lies I'll never understand. There is nothing in this article that has to do with Obama. It makes me wonder how he or she understood even his platform if she could read into that articel that the insurance glitch this family had came from Obama? I don't understand where this thinking is coming from because nothing in the video or article has anything to do with Obama.
NATHANSTORY (1 total posts | +1 total karma)
1/30/2010 at 10:05PM
Hi, this is Lesli~I am Nathan's mom. I would just like to thank everyon ewho has been offering help through our Pay Pal, through major prayers and emails, contacting us to let us know you are thinking of Nathan and our family. Patrick and I are feeling very blessed and humbled at the out pouring of compassion and generosity. For all the people posting messages, I just wanted you to know how much your care means. We are very blessed to have any insurance, we know those who have none or like us, with high deductibles and are struggling. I wanted people to know that we have gone through the manufactures of his medications as well One just came on Friday, for his enzymes to Phoenix Children's Hosptial. The other company had helped in the inital begining of him being on that medication and so it was a one time help. Most programs are retrictive in one way or another. Not all. Please know this is something we've been dealing with for years, rather it was hi co-pays, or just so many medical bills. I will be updating Nathan's site soon, an dtrying to include the links to these stories but I will also make a update to his Hero's page. There are several families there who could desperately need some help. Some are right here in Tucson. Please keep in touch and know that we are again, so very greatful to KVOA for doing this story. We are fine w/his deductible now and no long need donations for medications.If people want to give in general it's a blessing.We can always use grocery card.
maggieNC (1 total posts | 0 total karma)
1/30/2010 at 11:50PM
Nathan & his loving parents - I am amazed & very thankful for the outpouring of compassion & financial help folks have given for your precious son. Your family should never have had to be placed in a life threatening situation because of the ugly greed of a health insurance company!
My son (now an adult) suffered w/ asthmatic pneumonia in the 70's. In that decade, ins. cos, did not (to my knowledge) refuse to pay for medicines or demand high "deductibles". The exorbitant amounts of money many of us are having to pay today for medicines & health care is deplorable.
Greed is destructive. It is way past time to stop the gouging of Americans by drug mfgs., insurance cos., hospitals, etc. Health care is a basic right of every American not a luxury!
Thank God for the blessings from those who gave from their hearts & wallets for Nathan.
janeyre (3 total posts | +2 total karma)
2/1/2010 at 9:16AM
I have said it before. Americans are some of the most compassionate, generous people on the planet. I get medicine from Merck for my condition. I have health insurance. My cost is very high and I am on Disability. I worked as long as my health allowed me to. Now I depend on my Disability and Medicare. With the help from Merck, I can get the medicine that I can't afford, even with insurance. Some of the meds are very expensive. I am very happy to read these types of articles. Americans, you make me proud and I just love you...
Janeyre
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