When Roberta Woodard underwent breast cancer treatment last year, the disease took a toll not only on her health, but also on her bank account.
The first part of her treatment was one day of intense chemotherapy per week for 16 weeks. The 48-year-old Salisbury woman, a paraprofessional who works with students with special needs, traveled to Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore for the treatment, which meant taking the day off from work. The costs of drugs, co-pays and other medical expenses quickly ate up much of her $19,000 annual salary.
Woodard burned up all of her sick leave early in her treatment, which meant she didn’t get paid when she missed work for chemotherapy treatments or doctor’s appointments.
She started using her credit card to pay for gas for her car and other basic necessities.
She started using her credit card to pay for gas for her car and other basic necessities.
She cut back on spending as much as she could. Still, the bills piled up.
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