Patients cope with gas prices

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

Rising fuel costs are putting a strain on rural Oklahoma families who have to travel for healthcare.

Kayla Outhouse and her mother make a four-hour round trip from Butler to Oklahoma City for her medical treatments. The 25 year old was diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago, but doctors couldn't operate because they discovered other medical problems including liver failure.

"It's like I just turned 25 and everybody else is going on with their life, but I've just been sitting still," Outhouse said.

She just received a new liver after going through two years of treatments and trips to Oklahoma City.

"There are some weeks we've had to make one trip a week, some weeks we've had two, some weeks we've had three trips," she said. "My mom has been my rock I don't know what I would have done without her."

Her mother, Glenda Outhouse, accompanies her on her trips and pays the increasing gas bill.

The mother said she's grateful for support she received from friends and family.

A fund to help with travel and medical costs has been established in Kayla's name at the Oklahoma Bank and Trust in Clinton. 

"Overwhelmed by the support of just offering to help stay with me, take me to appointments, the donations for gas; I mean gas is so outrageous," Kayla Outhouse said.

It could be several more weeks before Kayla Outhouse is out of the hospital and another year until doctors can do a biopsy on the brain tumor.