A 19-year-old college student has already spent most of his savings on his mother’s cancer treatment. When she asked him for almost all of his latest paycheck, he told her it hadn’t arrived yet.
He feels terrible about the lie. But after giving nearly everything he had, he also wanted to keep a little money for himself.
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A Diagnosis Last Month
His mom, who’s 43, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer last month. The cancer had already spread through much of her body.
The news turned the family’s life upside down almost overnight. Suddenly, everything revolved around getting her the care she needed.
Weeks in the Hospital
Because the cancer had affected her lungs and heart, she had to be admitted to the hospital. Doctors needed to stabilize her before she could start chemotherapy.
She stayed there for two to three weeks. It was a frightening time for the whole family, filled with uncertainty and constant worry.
A $10,000 Hospital Bill
By the end of her stay, the hospital bill came to about $10,000. The family’s health coverage helped, but it didn’t pay for everything.
That left a large balance the family had to cover on its own. For many households, a bill like that can be overwhelming, especially when treatment is only just beginning.
$6,000 From His Savings
He stepped in and paid about $6,000 from his own savings. That was nearly everything he had.
For a 19-year-old, that’s a huge amount of money. It likely represented years of saving and could have gone toward school, emergencies, or his future.
A Student With a Remote Job
He’s a full-time student, and he earned that money through a remote job. Balancing school and work while caring about his mom’s health has put him under a lot of pressure.
Now, with most of his savings gone, his paycheck is his only cushion. Without it, he’d have almost nothing left for his own needs.
Chemotherapy Begins
About two weeks after leaving the hospital, his mom started chemotherapy. Her second session was just yesterday.
Cancer treatment can be expensive and ongoing. Medications, appointments, and follow-up care often continue for months, which means the costs aren’t going away anytime soon.
A Paycheck He Said Was Late
On the same day as her second session, he got paid. His mom asked him for almost his entire salary.
He told her his paycheck had been delayed and that he’d probably receive it in two or three days. He did it because he wanted to keep at least some of the money for himself after giving away nearly all of his savings.
Having some money left matters. Without any cushion, even small expenses like transportation, food, or school costs could become a problem.
Guilt Over Keeping Something for Himself
He feels guilty for lying to his mom while she’s going through such a serious illness. Part of him wonders if he’s being selfish.
At the same time, he’s already given more than most people his age could. He’s left torn between wanting to help his mother as much as possible and needing to protect what little he has left, knowing her treatment and the costs that come with it are far from over.
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