Paul Fitzgerald, VA

2013 Immediate Need Recipient

A few months ago, Paul Fitzgerald felt tired in the afternoons and would take brief naps thinking it was stress and long work hours. He is a self employed real estate appraiser and works from home. The naps became longer as he became increasingly more fatigued. Trips to the doctor did not immediately reveal anything, but 3 weeks ago he had blood drawn and it showed his red blood cell and platelet counts were low. He was finally diagnosed with 2 blood disorders; Myelo Fibrosis and Myelo Displastic Syndrome (MDS), the MDS is a blood cancer. These diseases have no cure, however the best possible prognosis is they can be managed.  As Paul is self employed and his wife teaches at a daycare center their income has been critically curtailed. To help with impending costs, Betterment's Immediate Need fund helped to pay one month of the family's health insurance premium.