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Meet Mr. Winters

Read How Everett Looks at Life with Gratitude
 

In 1950, Everett Winters enrolled at the University of Evansville, Indiana. He was one of only eight African Americans enrolled in the school at that time. “I faced a new experience and helped influence others positively. My time there provided so much value and I had a stellar experience,” says Everett.  

After college, Everett would go on to be an executive assistant to the president of the University of California, Fullerton. After a few years there, Everett joined his boss who took on a new role as president of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas. Everett continued to work there for 26 years, working to educate students at community events across the United States.

In 2008, at the age of 74 years old, Everett Winters was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Multiple Myeloma is a type of cancer that forms in plasma cells, a devastating diagnosis in itself, the cost of treatments were even more devastating. But like so much in Everett’s life, he kept a relentless attitude. He spoke with his pharmacy and they told him about an organization called Good Days that may be able to provide assistance so he would not have to forgo his treatment.

Everett applied for assistance and was approved.  “It’s been a tremendous experience. Good Days is always so pleasant and is always responsive to calls or requests for guidance,” says Everett. After so many years of working with Everett, he has become a part of the Good Days family.

“With every obstacle that he faces, he turns it into something good,” says Fran, a Good Days patient care navigator. “We’ve become really close over the years. We check in on each other if we haven’t heard from one another in some time. You rarely find someone with his positive attitude.”

“I am very blessed to be as old as I am and still have the ability to get around, exercise and spend time with my friends,” says Everett. 

Everett turned 85 years old in June, and you’re just as likely to find him walking the mall with his wife to get exercise or playing on the golf course with his friends. In the meantime, Everett is looking forward to a trip with his wife to visit family in Southern California. “This will be a good time to catch up on rest” says Everett.  

PARTNER PROFILE 

BONE MARROW AND CANCER FOUNDATION

Cost of accessing care is one of the most damaging aspects of cancer– adding stress and anxiety to an already challenging time when affected individuals should be focusing on their health. Out of pocket costs can quickly eat into savings, rent or mortgage payments and cause a loss of income capacity.

To help alleviate the financial burdens for cancer patients and their families who need to travel long distances for cancer treatment, The Bone Marrow and Cancer Foundation (BMCF) has launched an innovative offering in collaboration with Airbnb’s Open Homes program. 

BMCF has been based in New York City since 1992 and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for cancer and transplant patients and their families throughout the United States. Working with over 200 cancer centers in the United States, BMCF receives thousands of housing request calls from patients, their families and caregivers. Through this partnership, BMCF has already housed 
hundreds of patients with Airbnb’s Open Homes Program.

“We know that the cost of temporary accommodations can be a major barrier to receiving treatment for critical illnesses,” said Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, in an announcement on the Open Homes partnership. “Our team has helped connect thousands of patients with our generous host community to give them homes where they can rest and recuperate.” 

According to Airbnb, about 2,000 patients and their families have booked housing through the Open Homes program so far, contributing to Airbnb’s overall goal of housing 100,000 people in need by 2022.

“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation and to Airbnb. The home was a mile away from my hospital and made me feel so safe during my aggressive cancer treatment. It has been a blessing for me and my family as I’m in remission now,” shared BMCF patient Nousheen.

For more information on how to access the BMCF Open Homes program, visit: www.bonemarrow.org.

SPECIAL FEATURE

AMERICA RECOGNIZES CHRONIC DISEASE DAY 2019 WITH GOOD DAYS

National and state government leaders, health agencies, patient advocacy groups, caregivers, local communities and individuals across the country recognized Chronic Disease Day on July 10 to raise awareness on what everyone can do to help prevent chronic conditions and support those with unpreventable illness. 

“Chronic Disease Day presents an opportunity for Congress to reflect on what we can do to improve health and wellness, and support those impacted by chronic diseases,” said United States Senator Kevin Cramer at a Congressional luncheon held in Washington D.C. to commemorate Chronic Disease Day. Leaders of patient groups and individuals they support were joined by Senator Cramer and congressional staff to advocate for protections for individuals with chronic and rare conditions who need access to care.

What’s New?

Good Days is pleased to announce the opening of two new assistance funds for patients living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Chronic Noninfectious Uveitis.  

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat or breathe. It is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. SMA affects approximately 1 in 11,000 births, and about 1 in every 50 Americans is a genetic carrier. With innovative treatments we can now dramatically change that outlook and the quality of life for affected individuals. Our SMA program provides copayment, premium and travel assistance for eligible individuals.

Chronic Noninfectious Uveitis (CNIU) is a sight-threatening intraocular inflammatory condition characterized by inflammation of the uvea. It is responsible for 10-15 percent of all blindness. Thanks to treatments that can reduce risks associated with that disease, access to care can slow or decrease the likelihood of losing eyesight. Our CNIU program offers copayment assistance for eligible individuals.

To learn more, visit our website or call us toll free at (877) 968-7233, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (CST). 

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

CLORINDA WALLEY

We are here for you. Just a few words of support that can give a person the strength and confidence to continue fighting. When you have a chronic or rare condition, there can be many obstacles you face on a daily basis. And it often takes a relentless attitude to keep moving forward. Good Days is here to help remove barriers that keep people from accessing the care they need. Non-profit charitable assistance is a critical safety net for many people who live with rare, chronic, complex or life-threatening conditions. Our charity has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals who have no other options. We often hear back that the hope we provide gives people the strength they need to keep fighting. It makes our jobs truly worthwhile. It also drives us to grow our offerings so that we can better support the people in need. 

In the past few months we announced the opening of two new assistance programs. One for people diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a disease that  affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat or breathe. The second, for people diagnosed with Chronic Noninfectious Uveitis, a disease which causes 10-15 percent of all blindness. Removing the financial barriers to treatment can dramatically change that outlook and the quality of life for affected individuals.

In addition to the individuals and families we serve, Good Days strives to be a resource for the public and for policymakers. Earlier this summer we recognize Chronic Disease Day on July 10 to raise awareness that seven out of ten individuals in the United States succumb to a chronic illness. We established Chronic Disease Day to raise the national dialogue on challenges with access to care and on what we all can do to decrease the number of people with preventable chronic illness. States across the country recognized Chronic Disease Day by issuing official proclamations for the day. We were also honored this year to host United States Senator Kevin Cramer during a Congressional luncheon in Washington D.C., where he commended our work and spoke on the need to continue making a difference for individual health as well as for our national healthcare system.

More recently, we’ve partnered with the Washington State Department of Health to provide recommendations on how to increase access to the financial support we provide for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. In the months ahead, we will unveil new and expanded partnerships with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to support cancer survivors.

While we continue to fight for patients, it’s your support that makes our mission and work possible. Thank you. 

Sincerely,

Clorinda Walley, President

Good Days