Reduced Cost Stays for Cancer Patient in Seattle

[Tami56]

Hello. My 13 year old son and I are needing to go to Seattle for his leukemia treatment. He has been battling since he was 9 years old, and has no special needs. We live in southern Alabama, and I am a single widowed mom. If there is anyone who would be willing to help us, we would greatly appreciate it.

[Lisa723]

Bump

[Susan151]

@Tami56 You might wishto be in touch with the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle.

https://www.rmhcseattle.org

There should be a coordinator at your hospital that has a list of resources as well. For example, I know Dana-Farber has a list of families that welcome patients into their homes during treatment.

Best.

[Tami56]

Thank you so much. The Ronald Mcdonald House has a waiting list, so it takes awhile to get in. I am working with the social worker from the hospital, but he hasn't mentioned anything about that. They must not have that program in Seattle. 

[Helen3]

Hello @Tami56 

So sorry to hear that you son has cancer.

I am glad you are in touch with the hospital social worker. They are best placed to advise you on arrangements they have in place for subsidised accommodation for you both.

Can the hospital not refer you back to a hospital in your area where he can receive treatment (sounds like he is an outpatient if you both need accommodation? In that way you would not have to incur the cost of accommodation.

 In terms of helping you out - I think family, friends and any work colleagues,  would be best placed as they have a personal connection with you and your son and could help you cover accomodation costs. I am sure you could then contact local hosts and see if they were willing to offer a discount.

[Lisa723]

@Helen3 Seattle Children's has the premier pediatric oncology unit in the US. People bring their children from all over the country. A colleague of mine moved from Hawaii to Seattle for this reason. @Tami56, wishing you and your son the best.

[Tami56]

Thank you so much Lisa. 😊

[Tami56]

He has had leukemia four times. He is in a clinical trial at Seattle Children's. We have been going through this for 3 1/2 years. Thank you for your suggestions. 😊

[Susan1404]

@Tami56  Tami, I am relatively new to Airbnb, so I can't give you any specific details, but I am aware that Airbnb has a program called OpenHomes.  This is for people who wish to give back in some way for those who need medical treatment, refugees, etc.  I recommend you contact Airbnb personally and see if they can point you in the right direction.  Hopefully, there are at least a few hosts in the Seattle area who could help you during you and your son's stay there.  Best of luck to you in your search.

[Alexandra316]

@Tami56Here's a link about Open Homes for medical patients.  https://www.airbnb.ca/openhomes/medical?locale=en . Your social worker should be able to provide you with a referral. 

[Sarah977]

@Tami56  Very sorry about your son's condition. Horrible thing for him and his parent to have to go through.

Maybe you could clarify what you are asking for. A free place to stay? A discounted stay? Hopefully if and when you are offered something, you understand that the host, even if willing to let you stay for free, should be compensated by you for utilities, laundry, toilet paper, soap, etc. 

[Susan17]

@Sarah977 

Not necessarily.  I've provided accommodation many times for families from other areas of the country, who had to be a long way from home to be near their loved ones in hospital. Very often, families in such challenging situations are traumatised, exhausted and already under serious financial pressure due to huge medical costs, travel costs, having to take unpaid time off work etc. It wouldn't feel right to me to take a penny from them, even when they do offer. 

[Sarah977]

@Susan17  Well, I have three daughters and 5 grandkids. If I have any extra money, it would go to help them out. I wouldn't mind providing free accomodation to a person in need, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect a stranger to pay for anything out-of-pocket- it's plenty generous enough to offer free housing.

But if a host wants to be so generous as to finance a strangers life, that's totally up them. But I don't think that guests who are given a free place to live should expect for a host to be actually out-of-pocket for expenses.

[Susan17]

@Sarah977 

I fully agree that its not reasonable to expect anyone to finance a stranger's life, but in my experience, none of them do, and all have offered at least something to cover the incidental expenses of their stay. 

However, people in this situation invariably spend the majority of their time down the hospital anyway, so their use of facilities is minimal, and it'll be a cold day in hell before I start charging traumatised people for soap and toilet paper. I see it as a privilege to be able to help them even in some small way at what is often the very worst times of their lives, and that's worth a lot more to me than any amount of cold, hard cash. 

[Susan17]

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