Mum Sobs After She Was Unable To Afford Diabetic Son's Insulin

A mum in the US broke down in tears after she was unable to afford her son's insulin. Watch the video here:

Katie Schieffer, from North Carolina, took to TikTok to share her pain and ask how others are managing to stay afloat.

In the video - which was been viewed more than 535,000 times - Katie reveals that her nine-year-old son was recently diagnosed with diabetes, but she was unable to afford his $1,000 (£731) prescription.

She said: "I've worked for, like, 17 years. I work all the time. I've been paying medical bills on my son for nine years, since he was born.

"And he was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and has to have insulin every two hours.

"I just got his prescription. It was $1,000. I couldn't pay for it. I couldn't pay for it. I now have to go in and tell my nine-year-old son I couldn't pay for it.

"I work a full-time job. My husband works a full-time job. I work third shift. I go to school during the day.

"How you guys making it? Am I the only one struggling? How are you guys doing it?"

TikTok/@slimkwow

The heart-breaking video prompted an outpouring of support, with the video receiving more than 107,000 likes.

Commenting on the video, one person said: "This country is broken. I'm so sorry."

Another said: "girl we not making it... some are just better at hiding it"

A third added: "This is such a genuine display of emotions it makes my heart ache. Humankind is broken. I wish this is what they put on the news, people need to hear."

The video was also shared on Twitter, where many people slammed the US healthcare system.

One person wrote: "I'm not even American and the absolute INSANITY that is the medical industry in the USA makes my blood boil."

Another said: "America's healthcare system is so f*cked. Yeah the quality might be there, but what is the point if you can't afford it and die anyway?"

A third wrote: "Uh, that guts me. I remember that first pharmacy pickup. First time I cried too, and I *could* buy it, though I wondered how we would keep it up. I hope she got some good suggestions and help."

Fortunately, she has received good suggestions and help, with people donating to her Venmo and PayPal accounts, which she shared on TikTok.

Topics: Viral, tiktok

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey