In her final month on Earth, Casey McIntyre, a devoted wife and mother, transformed her imminent passing into a philanthropic endeavor aimed at alleviating the financial burdens of medical debt for struggling families and individuals.
Having succumbed to ovarian cancer just 12 days ago at the age of 38, Casey’s departure was marked not only by the sorrow of her loved ones but also by the remarkable impact of her selfless initiative. At the outset of her last month, Casey initiated a fundraiser with a humble request, and the response has been extraordinary, with a total of $650,000 raised.
This substantial sum holds the potential to relieve a staggering $65 million in privately-shouldered medical debt.
Casey, a mother to one and a dedicated publicist at Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is survived by her husband of 8 years, Andrew Gregory, and her daughter, Grace. Her journey with ovarian cancer began in 2019, leading to a protracted battle that eventually necessitated her transfer to hospice care for the final six months of her life.
In the face of adversity, Casey’s legacy extends beyond her personal struggles, leaving an indelible mark through her compassionate and impactful efforts to alleviate the financial burdens borne by those facing medical challenges.
On November 12th, a post went on her social media accounts that announced her passing from the disease and said, “I loved each and every one of you with my whole heart and I promise you, I knew how deeply I was loved.”
On her obituary page, had said that “she was a consummate New Yorker who always knew which bodegas had the best magazine selections, whether to take the B or the Q, what restaurants were best to spot celebrities, and [who] gave every new New Yorker the same advice: make sure you buy a coat that covers your butt, because that’s where you lose a lot of warmth.”
Casey made the decision to spearhead a “debt jubilee,” a term gaining traction to describe fundraising initiatives aimed at acquiring and alleviating debt burdens. As extensively covered by GNN, the United States finds itself burdened with substantial debt, and many creditors, such as hospitals and universities, extend services on credit. The allure of a swift cash payout often surpasses the prospect of a protracted, uncertain debt collection process.
In the aftermath of the Occupy Wall Street protests, two hedge fund managers established RIP Medical Debt, an organization that has effectively eradicated billions in private medical debt at a fraction of the original value.
Motivated by the impactful work of RIP Medical Debt, Casey chose to fundraise for the organization. Having experienced an extended stay at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she personally received exceptional service but recognized the unfortunate reality that not everyone could access such support.
By the Sunday following Casey’s passing, a staggering $220,000 had been raised, leaving Andrew, presumably a key figure in the endeavor, profoundly astonished by the generosity and impact of the fundraising efforts.
“We’re overwhelmed, and it’s been really powerful to see the response to people wanting to eliminate strangers’ medical debt.”
The sum has nearly tripled since the story had been featured in the New York Times.
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