"I am Canadian therefore am not sure what is available in the USA but I can tell you what we did when our son had cancer (metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma) in 1996-97. My husband and I lived full time at the hospital or Ronald Mcdonald house. The cancer society took care of the bill for that as well as gas vouchers. We were considered the working poor and not on any assistance when he was diagnosed therefore had to be creative with fundraising. The social worker in the oncology ward was our biggest help in finding non profit organizations to defer some of the costs. The tax department has a clause to cancel interest on taxes owed if a family member has cancer. It might be the same where you live. Family members felt the need to do something and started fund raising in our community. They raised enough to cover  1/2 our living expenses while we were away from our jobs. It made them feel less helpless they said. Check your tax laws. Here in Canada, if you travel more than 100km to visit your child or take her to the doctor, the mileage and food expenses are tax deductible. The Lions Club supplied him with mobility devises when he came home. We negotiated low interest on any loans we had to take out; the banks were very compassionate. Talk to the bank about paying interest only for a while; see how flexible they are. We finished treatment in debt but when you realize the moments you spend with your child could be the last ones, the finances can wait and be dealt with later. Let family or friends do the leg work or the social worker. Our son Brandon had 3% survival odds even with treatment and I am happy to say has been cancer free  and healthy for 10 years now. Praise God. May He bless you and your family." ~ Sandra

"I don't have a child with cancer, but I have had two children within the last 10 months to be diagnosed with type I diabetes. If they do not get their insulin, they will die. It has been difficult dealing with the emotions of the children, plus my anxieties and stress, and monitoring everything they eat.  (they can eat whatever, we just have to calculate the carbohydrates and enter it into the insulin pump)  But the financial burden is also very high. Our part of the insulin pumps was $2000 each. Plus supplies are about $400 per month. (our insurance has high deductibles of $1000 per person). I have been able to get some supplies / insulin from the doctor, as well as free blood testing machines. I am in the process of calling some of the companies and explaining the situation to try and get some help towards supplies. I don't know what all costs the cancer treatment involves, so I don't have any suggestions, except that if you are involved in an organization or church that has offered support, they might could go in and get a meal card from the hospital. We did this with a friend of ours whose child was in ICU for a month. Any suggestions for those involved with children with diabetes would help me." ~ Sylvia

"My son was a special child and had Downs Syndrome. He had tumors in 2002 and was very sick after that. We turn to Tri-county here in Ventura, CA. They helped with so much as they could with paying for needs he needed. We lost him last year May 2006. He took a turn for the worse after the stroke in his head but they were there to help. Thank God. I hope this will help in some way. I feel for you. Hopefully you can contact in your area. It doesn't hurt to try." ~ Phyllis

"When my nephew Zach was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia at age 8, his entire family moved to Houston so he could be treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital.  My brother's job gave him a year off with pay, but there were so many extra expenses that his pay check couldn't cover.  His boss set up a fund in which she tried to recruit one hundred people to pledge $10 each month for a year to that emergency fund. We sent flyers to out of town/out of state relatives, and recruited friends, family and church members to pledge $10 each month for one year. Many people who didn't even know Zach were willing/could afford to donate only ten dollars each month to help. We gave each participate a 'coupon book' that they would send in each month along with their donation. The secretary at work took care of putting the funds into a special bank account for Zach. Some people sent in the whole year's pledge money the first month. Others paid $10 each month for a year. This emergency fund covered so many extras they needed, anything from meals out, gas expenses, and occasionally a video game for Zach. It was extra money for whatever they needed. The money was so much appreciated, and so many people gave from their hearts. It was also a very affordable way for the many people to help who constantly wanted to know, 'What can I do to help?' By the way, seven years later Zach is a healthy, typical teenager, completely cured of his leukemia.  :)  My prayers are with you and your child." ~ Anonymous

"My situation is different in that our son has a chronic, rather than acute, condition. However, I have had to battle many times with insurance companies and the like. Are you making sure that the insurance company is paying EVERY possible bit of their portion? Read and re-read your policy, and if ANYTHING is unclear, call the insurance company. Anytime you talk with someone, be sure to write down that person's name and document date and time you talked with them. If you get an unsatisfactory answer and have to go back later to complain, you need to be able to back up your account. If your insurance company is being particularly stinky about covering treatment that seems like it should be covered, threaten (and be ready to follow through) to complain to your state insurance commissioner and/or attorney general. Of course, in your communication, be forceful but polite. Make sure spelling and grammar are correct; get someone who is good in that area to proofread if you need to.

Secondly, I do not know the ins and outs of a diagnosis of leukemia but you may be able to get some help through your state Medicaid/uninsured children's programs. At least as far as a chronic condition goes, our state program covers the deductibles and co-pays for therapy and most (not all) medications. Check with your state's equivalent of Department of Human Services and ask to speak to someone about medical coverage for chronically ill children. If you get no satisfaction there, contact your local level state legislator or assemblyperson. Push for help from the hospital's foundation and/or a local cancer foundation if there is one, and don't stop until you get an answer, even if you work your way up to the director. 

 Can your husband ask for FMLA time when he takes time off, or apply for leave share through his job?  Then he's still getting paid if he has to take a part of a day off for your mental health.

I am sure you have tried every trick in the penny pincher's book for day to day expenses but don't forget to ask friends and family for help.  Can someone sit with your daughter so you can get a breather or even run to a deli, rather than the hospital cafeteria? If your children's friends want a project, how about running a garage sale to help out with gas money? How about having your husband bring dinner when he and your son come to visit? When you are home, can you have some meals in the freezer ready to pull out for a bad day, or a day spent going to appointments/treatment? Even if you need to go to one of the make-your-own-frozen-dinner places, the savings and quality are significant when compared to another night of fast food. When people say the obligatory 'let me know if I can do anything,' TAKE THEM UP ON IT. Let them bring you dinner, run some laundry or whatever is driving you nuts at home. If nothing else, ask for a card to Starbucks or whatever your personal indulgence is." ~ Christy