My parents abandoned me in a hospital at 13 because my ca.nc.er treatment was “too expensive.” 15 years later, hearing I was the Valedictorian of Columbia University College, they demanded VIP tickets

“The treatment will be intense,” Dr. Collins continued. “We’re talking about two to three years of chemotherapy. The first month will be induction therapy, and Emily will need to stay in the hospital for most of that phase. After that, we move into consolidation and maintenance.”

“How much?”

That was the first thing my father said.

Not, Is she in pain?

Not, Will she survive?

Not, What can we do?

Just, How much?

Dr. Collins paused, clearly thrown off. “With your insurance, you may be responsible for roughly twenty percent of the total cost. Over the full treatment plan, that could mean sixty to one hundred thousand dollars. But there are payment plans, financial aid programs—”