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A posthumous appeal by a US woman who died from cancer has raised enough money in less than a week to wipe out million of dollars in medical debt.

Casey McIntyre told followers in a social media message posted by her husband that she had arranged to pay bills owed by others as a way of celebrating her life.

While she had good health insurance cover, the New York City couple has seen some “terrifying” costs on paperwork for her care and wanted to assist those saddled by hefty charges.

Writing on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Ms McIntrye posted, “if you’re reading this I have passed away”.

She added: “I loved each and every one of you with my whole heart and I promise you, I knew how deeply I was loved.

“To celebrate my life, I’ve arranged to buy up others’ medical debt and then destroy the debt.”

The posts included a link to a fundraising campaign started through the non-profit RIP Medical Debt.

Ms McIntyre’s husband, Andrew Rose Gregory, posted the messages on Tuesday following her death on Sunday, and the campaign quickly exceeded its $20,000 (£16,000) goal and now tops more than $170,000 (£136,000) – enough to buy around $17m (£13.6m) in medical debt.

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Mr Gregory said: “What resonated for me and Casey is, you know, there’s good cancer treatment out there that people can’t afford.

“Instead of dreaming of a cure for cancer, what if we could just help people who are being crushed by medical debt?”

This family photo shows Casey McIntyre with her husband, Andrew Rose Gregory. Less than a week after her death from cancer on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, the New York woman has raised enough money to erase more than $13 million in medical debt for others with a posthumous plea for help. (Emily Wood via AP)
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The couple started planning the debt-buying campaign after she almost died in May. Pic: AP

Patients in the US healthcare system can quickly rack up big bills that push them into debt even if they have insurance.

This is especially true for people who need hospital treatment, regular care or prescriptions for chronic health problems.

A 2022 analysis of government data from the non-profit KFF estimates nearly one in 10 US adults owe at least $250 (£200) in medical debt.

Of those 23 million people, some 11 million owe more than $2,000 (£1,600).

RIP Medical Debt erases debt bought from hospitals, other health care providers and the secondary debt market.

It buys millions of dollars of debt in bundles for what it says is a fraction of the original value.

The group says every dollar donated buys about $100 (£80) in debt, and it aims to help people with lower incomes.

This family photo shows Casey McIntyre and her daughter, Grace. Less than a week after her death from cancer on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, the New York woman has raised enough money to erase more than $13 million in medical debt for others with a posthumous plea for help. (Andrew Rose Gregory via AP)
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Ms McIntyre with her daughter, Grace. Pic: AP

Spokesman Daniel Lempert said the organisation has never had a campaign where someone plans for it to start after their death.

Ms McIntyre, who was a book publisher, started treatment for ovarian cancer in 2019.

She spent about three months in the hospital over the past year, her husband said.

The couple started planning for her memorial and the debt-buying campaign after she almost died in May.

They were inspired by a video they saw of North Carolina churchgoers burning about $3m (£2.4m) in medical debt.

Ms McIntyre spent the last five months in home hospice care, giving her what Mr Gregory called a “bonus summer.”

She went on beach trips and spent time with their family, including the couple’s 18-month-old daughter, Grace.

He said: “Casey was very, very sick at the end of her life, and she couldn’t finish everything she wanted to finish.

“But I knew she wanted to do this memorial and debt jubilee. So I set that up and… did it the way I thought she would have wanted.”

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New York stabbing: Knifeman kills four members of his extended family, including two children, police say

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New York stabbing: Knifeman kills four members of his extended family, including two children, police say

Four people, including two children, have been killed by a relative in New York, according to police.

Those stabbed to death included a 12-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, a 44-year-old woman and a man in his 30s.

Officers were called to reports of an incident in the city’s Queens borough after a girl said “her cousin is killing her family members”.

The 11-year-old was found in front of the house and the other three were found inside bedrooms, police added.

A fifth person, a 61-year-old woman, is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering from multiple stab wounds.

The scene in New York
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The scene in New York

Suspect Courtney Gordon, 38, was shot dead by police.

The two officers who responded to the scene on Sunday morning were also stabbed, police said.

Jeffrey Maddrey, NYPD chief of patrol, said one officer was struck in the neck and the other in the face.

The two officers were taken to hospital and are expected to recover.

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“The weapon that was used to injure the officers was a typical kitchen steak knife,” Mr Maddrey told a press conference on Saturday.

He said it is unknown at this stage if it was the same weapon used against the other victims.

Mr Maddrey said additional offers sent to the scene were not able to enter the home immediately because there was a fire inside the living room.

It is believed Gordon had been visiting the family at their home in the Far Rockaway neighbourhood.

“This scene was chaos. Multiple victims, a house on fire, and a mad man on a rampage, on a mission,” Patrick Hendry, the head of the New York Police Department’s police union, said.

“The skill that this police officer had shooting and stopping the threat after he was being stabbed. Unbelievable skill,” he said.

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Rock legends Kiss ‘immortalised’ as digital superhero-style avatars

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Rock legends Kiss 'immortalised' as digital superhero-style avatars

US rock band Kiss will live on as superhero-style digital avatars after playing their final live gig in New York.

Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, performed on Saturday night in the city’s Madison Square Garden, before leaving the stage to reveal their new digital alter egos.

Named Demon, the Starchild, Catman, and Spaceman, the holographic stars have been created with motion capture technology by Industrial Light & Magic.

The band were turned into avatars using motion capture technology
Image:
The band were turned into avatars using motion capture technology

The band were turned into avatars using motion capture technology

The Hollywood special effects company was founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas in 1975 and has worked on films including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and The Avengers.

Swedish firm Pophouse Entertainment, which worked on the avatars used in the Abba Voyage shows in London, was also involved.

Kiss frontman Stanley said the avatars – complete with the band’s iconic makeup – would “see Kiss immortalised”.

“What we’ve accomplished has been amazing,” he said.

“But it’s not enough. The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are.”

Kiss on stage in Copenhagen. File pic
Image:
Kiss on stage in Copenhagen. File pic

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Virtual Kiss’s first performance upon their unveiling was God Gave Rock And Roll To You.

‘Places we’ve never dreamed of’

The avatars will now be available for live shows around the world and in digital online settings, which some people collectively refer to as the metaverse.

Ariana Grande is among the pop stars to have performed in the hit video game Fortnite, and Lil Nas X has done the same inside the similarly popular Roblox.

Kiss bassist Simmons said the band will go to “places we’ve never dreamed of before”.

In the 50 years since they were formed in 1973, they have been on more than 30 tours, sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Inflatable Santa Claus gunned down in Kentucky drive-by shooting

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Inflatable Santa Claus gunned down in Kentucky drive-by shooting

A giant blow-up Santa has been gunned down in a drive-by shooting in the US – with the deflating deed captured on video.

The unfestive act carried out in Lexington, Kentucky, left a gaping 46cm (18in) hole in the Father Christmas and raised concerns other similar inflatable decorations could be targeted by the trigger-happy yobs, putting people in danger.

The Santa Claus, which had pride of place in a couple’s front garden, had been brought just days earlier for $200.

But it is hoped with the help of thimble-fingered neighbours that this St Nicholas could be stitched up and rise again, providing some much-needed yuletide cheer.

Homeowner Donald Nelson said: “Me and my wife were sitting on the couch watching TV and we heard a small bang or whatever and she asked me to take a look.

“When I looked out the front door, we saw the inflatable had fallen over.”

Pic: KYMA/ NBC
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The aftermath of the shooting. Pic: KYMA/ NBC

But it was only when he reviewed his CCTV footage the reality of what happened was brought home.

Mr Nelson said: “I went back and looked at our home security camera and it actually showed a vehicle turn around in the court and a sound that sounded like a firearm, shoot it.

“As soon as that noise went off, the inflatable fell down.”

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He added: “I mean, there’s multiple neighbours that have inflatables too and I mean certainly they could be targeted also.

“If they’ve done one, they’ll probably do several.

“Hopefully people will have Ring cameras, security cameras, that will catch a licence plate or give us a better description of who’s doing this.”

Pic: KYMA/ NBC
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The attack left a gaping hole in the festive centrepiece. Pic: KYMA/ NBC

Mr Nelson went on: “We’ve got some neighbours that can sew and have promised their services to help get him up and going again… I just beg people to check and see what your kids are doing.

“I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“We don’t want anyone to get hurt. It’s not a cute, fun thing.

“This is, you know, you’re discharging a firearm at someone’s home.”

NBC affiliate Lex 18 reported that Mr Nelson filed a police report but hadn’t had any updates as of Saturday.

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