Financial help w surgery medical bills
This is my problem: I am in need of surgery for removal of tumors in my parathyroid glands. These tumors cause Hyperparathyroid disease or hyperparathyroidism. The only treatment is surgery. It is a specialized surgery and only a small percentage of surgeons throughout the country are skilled at this type of surgery. After great research I located the Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic in Florida that can do the surgery for me.
They require payment PRIOR to having surgery. My insurance company is only paying 60% of the cost of the surgery (which leaves me with a balance due of about $7000.00). They require the full amount of my portion to be paid prior to having the surgery. To make matters more challenging they will not accept any type of payment plan. The full amount is due or no surgery. I still owe over $3000.00 for all of the tests, including the nuclear scans that were required for this surgery. It is impossible for me to try and come up with the necessary monies on my own. I am humbled to be asking for help, but I don't know of another way. I am praying that this "gofundme.com" is the answer to my need and ask that if there is any way that you can help, you will. Above all, I ask for your prayers.
Personal Background: My name is Brenda Andreas, I am single, almost 62, have no savings left and no other means of support. I'll try to give you a brief history of why I am needing financial help.
In 2004, my home was hit by two hurricanes within two weeks...Francis and Jeanne. In 2005, Hurricane Wilma hit again. I had considerable damage and recovered very little of my repair bills from the insurance company. During the next couple of years, my stock portfolio was depleted. Even though I had lost almost all of my stock investments, I thought if I could sell my home, I could manage. Then the mortgage industry went down hill, the real estate market crashed, and insurance companies were no longer insuring homes on the ocean. I was forced to sell my home at a HUGE loss, emotionally as well as financially.
At the age of 60, with no college education or current marketable skills I found myself in the situation of needing to get a job, so I went back to school and started looking for one. In 2011, I was able to secure a position as a receptionist with a wonderful company. I now work full time and am still going to school when physically able to attend. I am very grateful for my job, but unfortunately I only bring home enough to pay my rent and utilities.
Medical Background:
I have tumors in my parathyroid glands and thyroid glands. The surgery that I need right now is for removal of the tumors in the parathyroid glands (four glands behind the thyroid glands). The tumors cause Hyperparathyroid disease or hyperparathyroidism.
The parathyroid glands hormones control the amount of calcium in your blood and bones. The disease literally sucks the calcium out of your bones and puts it in your bloodstream, causing a number of complications. It causes Osteoporosis (which I have severe Osteoporosis), fractures (which I have had a broken wrist and toe within the last year), bone pain (which is getting worse). The excess calcium can build up in the arteries causing atherosclerosis which can lead to high blood pressure (which I have), a heart attack, a stroke (which I had a mini-stroke or TIA). It causes kidney stones (which I have had) and occasionally kidney disease. It affects the brain and our electrical system of our nerves. It slows the nervous system resulting in extreme tiredness, chronic fatigue and poor concentration (all of which I have) and GERD (which I have) There is a higher cancer risk for people with hyperparathyroidism, for breast, (which I am already at higher risk) colon, kidney and Prostate cancers.
It basically destroys the body.
The only treatment for Hyperparathyroidism is surgery.
And the great news is that with surgery to remove the tumors, there is an extremely high cure rate and then the body will start to heal itself. There is a very informative video at http://www.parathyroid.com
My surgery is scheduled for December 3rd at the Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic near Tampa in Wesley Chapel, FL.
I thank you all for taking the time to read about me and my situation and helping if you can.
May God bless you and guide you.
Humbly and gratefully yours, Brenda
