This just shows how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has turned its back on small business owners in the U.S.
http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20090902/HURRICANE/909020330###
Employees rally to help boss with medical expensesBY PATRICE ST. GERMAIN
patrices@thespectrum.com
• September 2, 2009
Aleshea Trombley, lead technician and office manager for veterinarian Dr. Jean Hooks, talks about the day she put her foot down when Hooks found out, again, she was ineligible for financial assistance with cancer treatments.
As Trombley talks about the emotional day a few weeks ago, tears form in Hooks eyes and Trombley scoots her chair over to Hooks and places her hand on Hooks knee.
At the same time veterinarian technician Lisa Teague, wordlessly walks over to Hooks and gently massages her shoulders.
No words are needed to see how much care and concern the two, along with Lea Moscatello, veterinarian assistant for Hooks, have for their employer as they talk about an upcoming fundraiser to help pay for Hooks medical expenses for chemotherapy pills.
"We are looking to raise at least $10,000 from the Sept. 12 (event) which includes a dog wash, bake sale and huge rummage sale," Trombley said. "All the money raised goes to Jean."
Hooks graduated in 1970 with a DVM (Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine) and has been in the area for 12 years. She has operated her own clinic, Zion Veterinary Clinic, for 10 years.
In addition to her veterinarian business, Hooks is active with her Zion K-9 Search and Rescue Inc. Having been involved with Search in Rescue for 20 years, Hooks has assisted law enforcement agencies and others find lost or missing persons.
Hooks was diagnosed with cancerous lesions in her lower back area in October and after a successful round of radiation treatments, began feeling better and was re-growing bone.
New pain in her rib cage brought another round of radiation and estrogen based blockers which caused the caner cells to rapidly multiple instead of inhibiting the cancer.
Only asking for prayers and support,
Hooks, as a small business owner with no insurance, paid as much as she could for her treatments.The second bout of cancer didn't respond as well and Hooks decided to take chemotherapy pills.
Each round of pills costs $2,300 and need to be taken every two weeks./b]
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