Go Fund Me Campaign Backfires On Mom Of Cancer Patient

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One of the few possessions Demicka keeps close is a photograph of her grandmother.

"She raised me," said Demicka. "I just remember how strong she was. I never heard her complain about anything."

Demicka leans heavily on that memory. In addition to everything else going on, her 15-year-old daughter, Tavi, has bone cancer. She lost her leg to it a couple of years ago. The sickness forced Demicka to stay home to care for her daughter. She lost her job, then her home and had to turn to the state for food assistance.

"It was scary," she said. "I kept trying to hold on as long as I could."

Out of sheer desperation, Demicka created a Go Fund Me page to get back on her feet.

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The community response brought her to tears; 341 people, most of them total strangers, donated more than $15,000.

"I was in shock," said Demicka. "One person asked that anyone who was going to buy him a birthday present that year, donate to us! I was crying."

When Demicka checked her post office box a few weeks later, however, those tears of joy turned to tears of agony.

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She had mentioned her good fortune to a government caseworker, who then reported the windfall.

DSHS and Social Security both consider that money income. If she keeps the cash, she'll lose her food benefits from the state and federal medical assistance, which includes Tavi's chemotherapy. That's because the donations would push her well over the income allowance for people receiving government assistance.

"I'm just trying to provide for my daughter," said the normally stoic mother, as she broke down in tears.

Demicka could keep the money, pay for everything out of pocket until it's all gone and then reapply for benefits, but she feels that defeats the purpose of people's generosity.

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That nest egg would go a long way toward filling her cupboards, getting her out of state subsidized housing and back into the workforce.

"It just doesn't make sense," she said. "There should be an exception for cases like this."

The same church that took the family in, Riverton Park United Methodist Church, is now taking donations for the family. They need food, clothing and furniture. The church is located at 3118 S. 140th St. in Tukwila. Pastor Jan Bolerjack is overseeing donations. (Contact her at [email protected] or 206-246-1436). Also, gift cards from specific stores are acceptable under government guidelines. (Think Fred Meyer as opposed to Visa.)

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Along with battling cancer, Demicka worries Tavi is slipping into a deep depression. She's a talented computer artist, but the sparkle is fading from her eyes. She sat next her mom in silence, head down, hair covering her pretty face.

For now, all Demicka can do is hold her daughter's hand, be grateful for every day she has with her and keep looking to her grandmother for guidance.

"She gives me strength. She tells me everything is going to be okay."