A version of this story appears in the May 20, 2019, issue of Sports Illustrated. For more great storytelling and in-depth analysis, subscribe to the magazine—and get up to 94% off the cover price. Click here for more.
The diagnosis was life-threatening. The patient was elderly. And the best medical care was unaffordable.
It’s a distressingly familiar American story, but what made Jane Bartkowicz’s case particularly striking was that it involved a former professional athlete. One who, ironically, helped open the door for her successors to make millions.