Dying Woman's Electricity Stays On After CNN Viewers Contact Power Company

CNN viewers concerned about the welfare of a stage 4 cancer patient in Texas have paid her bill and prevented her power from being shut off.

Mabel Randon told CNN Houston affiliate KHOU Tuesday that she couldn't sleep because she's afraid her oxygen machine will be shut off by the electricity company before morning.

"I'm fighting for my life and I thought people at the power company would help me," Randon said. "I just thought they'd make some kind of exception for me."

Randon and her husband got behind on their electricity after her husband lost his job. She applied to CenterPoint Energy's "Critical Care Program," but was told she failed to meet the program's criteria because she could have bought a battery-operated oxygen machine.

CNN reported Wednesday that public outrage about Randon's situation has prompted the Public Utility Commission of Texas to review her situation. The commission told CNN that they will keep Randon's power on until they finish reviewing her case. CNN was unable to reach Randon's electricity company, Freedom Power.

In an effort to find out how readers could help Randon and express their concern for her situation, Impact contacted Freedom Power, now known as Penstar Power.

A spokeswoman for the company told Impact that they have had Randon's account on hold since July and have no plans to disconnect her power. "The disconnect notice was generated automatically," the spokeswoman said.

Penstar power received a mass of phone calls following Tuesday's broadcast and concerned callers who saw the CNN broadcast have also paid the $188.88 outstanding amount on Randon's account, the spokeswoman told Impact.

"For now the bill has been paid off and we're just going to continue to work with this couple."