Our Stories

This year, Brandee Hammontree, manager of oncology data and accreditation at Sarah Cannon in Kansas City, Missouri, experienced a fainting episode and was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism – she needed extensive medical care. Shortly thereafter, her husband, David, was in a terrible accident after he hit a snowy pothole, resulting in punctured lungs, broken ribs and a shattered shoulder. The cost of their care and unpaid time out of work created a huge blow to their financial stability.

This desperate situation drained Brandee and David’s savings. Brandee dreaded going to the mailbox in anticipation of an ever-growing stack of bills. Eventually, she chose to reach out to the Hope Fund. She had contributed for years, but the thought of applying for assistance hadn’t immediately occurred to her. The Hope Fund soon responded with assistance, and Brandee felt like she could breathe again. “The weight it took off our shoulders was incredible,” she said. “Thank you isn’t enough. This felt like a hug from the whole organization!”