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Community fund to help Korean American patients saves lives in NJ

March 20, 2015
Park Sung-mi, second from left, donated toward the Korean Medical Program's Community Bridge Fund Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KMP)

Park Sung-mi, second from left, donated toward the Korean Medical Program’s Community Bridge Fund Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KMP)

Last December, a single mother raising a daughter found out she had ovarian cancer.

The woman, a 50-year-old immigrant from South Korea identified only as A, spoke no English, had no money for surgery and could not find help because of her immigration status. The reality of the possibility of losing her life set in.

That was when the Korean Medical Program at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey stepped in. Its Community Bridge Fund, launched in February last year to help patients with life-threatening needs, saved A’s life by providing the $8,000 she needed for surgery and treatment.

A was the program’s second recipient. The first was Kwak, 63, who had been on the verge of losing his eyesight.

“Koreans who do not have insurance but who have financial difficulties or immigration status issues have a very hard time getting surgery even in life-threatening situations,” KMP said. “The program we started to help that problem has so far saved two lives.”

The program received a $1,000 donation Wednesday from Park Sung-mi, a breast cancer patient.

“I’m also struggling and almost received the help of the fund,” she told program Deputy Director Choi Kyung-hee. “Please use the money for those who are suffering more than me.”

Call 201-833-3399 for more information.