Nataline Sarkisyan's Battle Effecting HealthCare

Only a couple days ago, we posted a story about our Hollyscoop member Peter Sarkisyan's personal struggle. His 17 year old sister Nataline Sarkisyan was suffering from leukemia and unfortunately lost her life in the battle yesterday.

Her story has become a national topic when her health insurance company CIGNA HealthCare initially refused to cover the transplant calling it experimental in her case. Even Michael Moore is stepping in.

Nataline who had recurring leukemia, had been on a waiting list for a new liver because she developed complications after a bone marrow transplant (which Peter donated) and chemotherapy.

After protests outside the CIGNA HealthCare center on Thursday, the insurance company decided to give in and cover the transplant surgery, unfortunately it was too late.

We wanted to personally send out our condolences to Peter and his family and commend them on their efforts to bring awareness towards this issue. They are no longer fighting for their daughters cause but for all others who face similar injustice. The Sarkisyans have set up a foundation under Nataline’s name and to help out please mail a check to the address below.

California National Bank
C/O Nataline Sarkisyan
19450 Plummer Street
Northridge, Ca 91324
(818) 993-0531
ATTN: Christina Ketsoyan
www.calnationalbank.com

UPDATE:
There will be a Virgil for Nataline Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 6:00pm at Ferrahian High School.

5300 White Oak Blvd
Encino, Ca

The funeral service will take place Friday December 28, 2007 at 11:00am.
At St. Mary’s Amrenian Apostolic Church.

500 S Central Ave
Glendale, Ca

Funeral precession will immediately follow at:
Forest Lawn / Hollywood Hills
6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Nataline’s favorite color is pink. Please include pink in your attire.

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Reader Comments

8:28PM 01/23/09 miley4ever

Damn, stuff like this isnt right. It shouldn't be like this. Every human makes a difference in our lives. She didn't deserve this. Completley unfair, REST IN PEACE Natalie!

7:53AM 02/22/08 kyhwqamiz grkyeq

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2:36PM 12/31/07 GatorVol

There is a solution to our Health Care situation.... A bill has been introduced into the 110th Congress.. HR 676 sponsored by US Rep. John Conyers along with 86 Co-Sponsors including Presidential candidate, Dennis Kucinich. The bill is for a non-profit single-payer health system which would provide health care for ALL. The bill is sitting in committees (where it could die as it did in the 108th and 109th Congresses) if we the people don't start screaming at our representatives to stop supporting the special interests of the insurance companies and start supporting the interests of the American people.

4:02PM 12/24/07 Hori

I saw this on CNN today and immediately thought of you guys cuz I saw the post a week ago on here about her. May God rest her soul and the family will surely win this battle and I just hope that evil corporation goes bankrupt and can never do this again to anyone else. God bless her family.

8:31PM 12/23/07 Sandy

This is an outrage! What kind of country do we live in? Its all about greed and big money and very little compassion for our fellow human being. My heart goes out to Nataline for all the suffering she endured. She was incredibly brave and strong and Im comforted knowing she is in a safe place surrounded by love. She can not be hurt anymore. My heart and love goes out to her incredible loving family. These greedy insurance companies must be stopped.

0:01PM 12/23/07 onequestion

I read this story on my comcast first page and was totally outraged! My sentiments were exactly concurrent with all of the above, but when I clicked the link in the first paragraph of the article found here "posted a story," I found something else that might have threatened the life of the innocent here. Quoting from the previous article, "We're hoping to find her match as soon as possible as time is of the essence." This article was posted on the 16th. While it is possible that a match could have been found within 5 days, my impression is that a waiting list also could have posed problems. I don't know whether or not the operation must be approved before her name was placed on the list, but even given that doubt, I feel we should take a second look before handing that nasty corporation to the gallows. Your input is much appreciated. RSVP. J

3:26AM 12/23/07 A.John.Joe

Seda: "Insurance is a business that needs to be profitable. If it does not make a profit, there is no way to pay on claims, employees and thousands of other business related costs." Do you include in that obscenely large bonuses to the members of the board and gigant profits for the stockholders? I don't see anyone other was saved when Nataline was "let go" as you put it - I would say murdered, but hey.

1:24PM 12/22/07 hermi

Health shouldn't be a business. How much is a life worth? RIP Nataline

6:36AM 12/22/07 j.

my condolences go out to the family of nataline.

11:21PM 12/21/07 Fuck vigna

Fuck them murderers its a damn businessvits bs

11:10PM 12/21/07 Geminate

Insurance is a business that needs to be profitable. If it does not make a profit, there is no way to pay on claims, employees and thousands of other business related costs. Sometimes people are just too ill or broken and all the money or operations in the world isn't going to save them. Death is part of life, it is going to happen to everyone. Because of this patient's illnesses, condition (coma and severe complications), I believe it was best to let her go, it was her time and it was no one's fault. This family should be grateful to have had a daughter for a time, there are no guarantees in life. Why are the people who helped to a reasonable extent now being sued? They should be commended on how much they did expend on trying to keep this very very ill person alive for as long as they did.

8:01PM 12/21/07 Seda

I was a close friend to Nataline, and i did the best i could possibly do for her to survive, and so did a lot of others who cared and loved this sweet beautiful girl. Nataline hands down had to be the best girl i have ever met in this whole world. What Cigna has done is horrible. they killed her. SHE COULD OF LIVED!!! I WOULD OF BEEN ABLE TO SEE HERE AGAIN AND TALKED TO HER!!!! but what now? im sittin here wishin that i will wake up from this nightmare any minute. SHAME ON CIGNA I HATE U ALL WITH ALL MY HEART I HOPE U GO TO HELL FOR WHAT U HAVE DONE TO SUCH A YOUNG INNOCENT GIRL AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS ! what more can i say we have a big war goin on down here but Nataline jan you my dear are now free<3 Rest In Peace Love<3

7:32PM 12/21/07 Allen

R.I.P. Nataline, we had so many countless memories together. You are now in a better place sweetheart and you will always be remembered. Eeeshallah, Mark Geragos makes the CEO and Board Of Directors of Cigna wish that THEY WERE NEVER BORN!!

6:53PM 12/21/07 Chloe

What a tragedy. I'm so sorry for the family...losing such a young life. Unfortunately, the medical "business" in this country is responsible for so many outcomes such as this one. Clearly, we are not looked upon as human beings, but are seen as dummies on which to conduct research. So sad.

6:25PM 12/21/07 gevo

I hope cigna goes bankrupts and the people denying the surgery suffer a horrible death. Fuck them all. i would piss on the grave of Cigna's CEO and every signa employee. i hope they have the same thing happen to them.