2nd UPDATE: Surgery date has been changed to 6/9/25. Hopefully everything will go well and I’ll be doing great for my daughter’s wedding on 6/14! Thank you for reading!  
 

UPDATE: I was able to qualify for health coverage effective 6/1. This will (hopefully) cover all the upcoming costs. Currently, my total balance for everything last week is $23,429.53. I have been unable to work because of the pain and other symptoms. 
 

On 5/25, I went to the emergency room of Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, IN because of severe nausea, vomiting, and fever. They diagnosed a large  (7mm) kidney stone that was causing an obstruction, so I was admitted.

The following day, I had surgery to place a stent that would help drain my urine and avoid sepsis. They did not remove the stone for fear that the manipulation would cause possible infection to spread. The procedure was successful, and I was discharged yesterday, with a plan to return for removal of the stent as well as lithotripsy for removal of the stone.

Today I received a call from the surgeon’s office to schedule that procedure (6/20), and to advise me of my estimated cost. I don’t have insurance, so I am required to pay $92,405.35 prior to the procedure.  This amount is completely separate from what I will already owe for the ER, hospital stay, and first surgery.

I have worked since I was 16 years old, and the majority of those years I’ve worked in the medical field. Currently I work for a small practice, only 4 employees plus the doctor, and they are unable to provide health insurance. I have been married to my husband for almost 40 years. We’ve never lived extravagantly. Our income is enough that we don’t qualify for any type of assistance. In fact, our home cost about $30K less than this procedure will cost! This cost is far beyond what we could afford, and I don’t know what to do.

Counting on the generosity of strangers is not something I want to so, but there is no way we could come up with any amount close to $92K, even if I was able to work during this ordeal.  Please know that your generosity will be matched and exceeded by my gratitude.  Thank you for reading this, and for your consideration.

(On top of everything, my daughter is getting married in 2 weeks. )