Jivan,
Hello, I think I have corresponded with you before. My name is Carm and I am an oncology/end of life nurse. First, let me say how sad I am to hear of your news in regards to your Sister In Law. I can understand how upset your family must be and my thoughts are with you. Another member of the "What Next" community (Aliza), reached out to me to tell me that you needed assistance in finding a way to get your sister in law transportation to a second opinion. I am going to give you a link to a website called NeedyMeds at:
http://www.needymeds.org/.
When you click on this link, on the left hand side of the homepage, the second section down is called "Additional Resources." Under that heading you will see "Diagnosis-Based Assistance. Click on that phrase. It will take you to another page. Further down that page highlighted in blue will read "Diagnosis List." Click on that phrase and it will bring you to another page and in the top half of that page you will see the alphabet. Click on the letter "C." The first entry under that letter is "Cancer-All." When you click on that, it will bring you to another page that has many resources. The first resources are national like "American Cancer Society," a nationally known organization. After the National listings, the resources are listed by state. In the National list about the fifth from the top is "Angel Airlines Samaritans." They provide transportation all over the USA. Under the National resources you may find others that transport listed in the column that describes the services they provide. As you scroll down that list to South Carolina, you will see other local organizations, usually by county that also provide travel expenses as well as other items. I hope this will help you and your family.
On NeedyMeds homepage you can also find many other resources like medications at little or no cost for your whole family as well as your Sister-In-Law. I read from your post that she is suffering with an intractible cough. Until you get her transported to a second opinion. It is a good idea to call her oncologist or Respiratory oncologist and get her something for that cough. Some formularies (pharmacists) will make Morphine or Lidocaine Inhalers or nebulizer treatments. If you cannot get help for that cough. Might I suggest that you put Vicks Vaporub on the bottoms of her feet and then cover her feet with stockings. This quiets a cough very well and in end of life care; we use this method on all our patients with a terminal cough. If the cough is productive (if she is producing phlegm), you might try mucolytics that are provided over the counter, like guaifenesin (Robitussin). If her cough is a dry cough (no phlegm), you might need to call her primary doctor and ask for a prescription for Tessalon Perles (benzonatate). This drug anesthetizes the stretch receptors that produce the cough, it is very inexpensive. I wish you the best of luck and you are in my thoughts at this most difficult time. Please feel free to write me should you need anything. You are in good hands with Aliza, she is a wealth of information and can help guide you through this dilemma, Carm RN.
Jivan,
