Girl's Leukemia Drains Insurance Coverage

Robyn and Tim Major of La Plata with their 3-year-old daughter, Madison. The family has incurred $1.6 million in medical bills for Madison's treatment since her illness was diagnosed in July. (By John Kelly -- The Washington Post)
Buy Photo

"She kind of looked down, and she got really quiet," Robyn said. "How do you explain it to a child when you can't really understand it yourself?"

"They grow up overnight," said Maddie's oncologist, Anne Angiolillo, director of the leukemia and lymphoma program at Children's. "No adult could go through what these children go through."

Where the Money Goes

The gift you make to Children's goes to the hospital's uncompensated care fund. This money goes to make up the shortfall between what treatment costs and what Medicaid will pay. It also pays the bills of sick children who may not qualify for Medicaid.

To donate, write a check or money order payable to "Children's Hospital" and mail it to Washington Post Campaign, P.O. Box 17390, Baltimore, Md. 21297-1390.

To donate online using a credit card, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/childrenshospital.

To contribute by phone using Visa or MasterCard, call 202-334-5100.

My blog: voices.washingtonpost.com/commons. My e-mail: kellyj@washpost.com.