Woman with Rare Blood Disease Struggles with Medical Bills and More

We want to introduce you to a woman named Mary Jo Miller of North Baltimore. She has a very rare blood disease called TTP that causes her to bleed internally. For the past eight years, she's been in and out of the hospital 16 times -- because of that, she's missed a lot of work, and gained a lot of bills. The problem we are trying to solve is paying off her bills. As part of the treatment, she can be off work for months at a time -- like right now, she's just recovering from another relapse that sparked in December. Currently, she's only making 152 dollars a month -- with disability. And that doesn't cut it. That's why she and her daughter contacted NBC24 for help. Specifically, the pair is looking for some government or non-profit group that provides financial assistance for people suffering from chronic illnesses. NBC24 was able to put her in touch with the Wood County Division of Job and Family Services. If all goes well, mary jo will receive food stamps and help with medical bills. Still, if you have any ideas or suggestions -- or if you need help -- please call us at 419-535-0024. Or email me at solvesit@nbc24.com Also, Mary Jo is encouraging everyone to donate blood. She says -- without those donations, she wouldn't be alive. In this edition of Shenikwa Solves It, good news for a local woman we told you about last week. Mary Jo Miller suffers from a rare blood disease that forces her to miss a lot of work. She was in danger of losing her apartment. We asked you to help Shenikwa solve the problem, and you won't believe who pitched in. Mary Jo Miller found help in the most unlikely of places. Her best friend from 20 years ago saw her story and wanted to help. The reunion took place right here in our lobby. Jean Ellingsworth and her family couldn't believe when they saw Mary Jo on NBC24. "I was sitting on the couch watching the news and I looked up and saw it was her," said Jean. She and her family have been looking for Mary Jo -- her neighbor and long lost best friend -- for decades. They were excited, but sorry to hear that Mary Jo was suffering from a rare blood disease called T-T-P. The disease causes her to bleed internally and spend a lot of time in the hospital --- And off of work. The situation had Mary Jo behind on bills and needing help. We asked for you to help solve her problems, and Jean -- along with others -- stepped up. "I will do anything, she's like family," said Jean. Iironically, our NBC24 Front Office Administrator took Jean's call and learned - she had grown up in Rising Sun -- going to the same school as Mary Jo and Jean. She couldn't wait to put the two together again. Mary Jo was shocked to learn Jean and her family were the good samaritans. "Never, never in a million years, never ever would have guessed," Mary Jo said. Jean brought Mary Jo $200 -- and cases of Campbell's Soup. "She knows my favorite is Cream of Mushroom," said Mary Jo. She says the soup, money, and the reunion help lift her spirits. "I'm not used to people giving to me. It's nice to know there's people out there who care," said MaryJo. That's not all for her. The Waffle House in Bowling Green scheduled a fundraiser to help pay off her bills. We'll update you up on that later.