Lydia Mann has always gravitated towards helping people. She went to medical assistance school at age 20 and has been in the healthcare field ever since.
“It’s always been my niche, always to extend my hand [to people] in more dire need than me,” Lydia said.
That’s why it came as such a shock when Lydia found herself on the other side of the healthcare world and became the patient when she was diagnosed with cancer late in 2023. And while there certainly is never a good time to receive a cancer diagnosis, Lydia’s story shows how the timing of employment can add even more emotional and financial stress to an already difficult situation.
Lydia was transitioning to a new job when she was diagnosed, having only been at the job for a month and a half. She was excited to start the new job and knew it would help her support her eight and 12-year-old boys. However, an initial procedure date had to be postponed because it was the same day as orientation for the new job, something Lydia couldn’t risk missing.
“Having to take the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave of absence that soon into a job was a scare for me,” Lydia said. “I was in this great position; the money was better, and now I have to take leave from this job.”
After taking a leave of absence, Lydia started an intense treatment program that included five days a week of radiation and chemo once a week for six weeks. Side effects forced changes in the treatment schedule, and later on, Lydia was hospitalized after developing blood clots in her lungs as a result of treatment. Her initial leave became continuous.
The last thing a patient dealing with cancer treatment should have to worry about is how they will pay for everyday household bills. While programs like FMLA exist in Massachusetts and protect patients’ jobs, the payment does not come as quickly as bills are due, and Lydia still needed to feed her family. As she waited for that money, her treatment timeline became delayed.
That is where the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) came to help. Lydia’s two main concerns were food and shelter for her kids. JAF first sent a gift card from their Food Security Program to help with groceries, and then JAF’s Financial Assistance Program helped pay a portion of Lydia’s rent.
Lydia’s treatments have now concluded, and she is waiting on scans to confirm that they were successful. She’s back at work part-time, trying to build her endurance to see if she can return full-time. And she does so with a new appreciation from a patient’s perspective.
“[It’s] always hard in healthcare to become a patient, and I always try to be understanding of that,” Lydia said. “[I] know what it’s like. [I’ve] been the patient the last three months; it’s had its ups and downs, and it’s been an emotional roller coaster, but I’m excited to get back to work.”
Even for someone whose job was protected, the financial strain of a diagnosis is ever-present.
“…You never know when even $100 can help someone less fortunate. While I was waiting for my FMLA, I was getting letters from my rent office. I didn’t know where the money would come from; everything was in limbo. If you can donate and help, you can put a smile on someone’s face, especially someone with children. One little gift card for groceries could light up someone’s smile.”