Help Samantha Recover!

Hello,

This is really hard for me, but I'm going to try my best...

While living in France and waiting to enter the French medical system, I have had some unexpected health issues come up.

On Aug 21, I went to the emergency room (after being misdiagnosed by a GP) and was told I needed surgery immediately to evacuate a rather large abscess which had been causing me severe pain. The surgery mostly went well, but I was out of work for 1 week due to not really being able to sit or stand and was very sick from the anaesthesia. It has been 3 weeks now and I have required medical care each day to ensure my bandages are changed and my wound is kept clean.

I am at risk of recurrence and also have up to a 50% chance of a further compound complication (this thing called a fistula) that would require yet another surgery (at least) and more care, and it's very important that I continue seeing a nurse until my wound is healed. The hospital said sometimes it can take 4-6 weeks (and this is if it fully heals without complication) and I am only at week 3.

This particular incident precedes a month and a half of 2 other back-to-back infections (1 of which I am also still managing), and at this point, it is not clear if they are related or caused this, so I am trying to do everything I can to follow this up with lab tests, specialist visits, etc.

Currently, I am paying out of pocket for all my care. Between lab tests, hospital visits, daily nurse visits, appointment after appointment with this-or-that specialist, missed work and medical supplies, I have already run up over €1500 (!!) and this does not include the medical bill for the surgery (which I am waiting for in the mail), my follow up visits at the hospital with the surgeon (1 so far, and more to come), or my nurse bill.

This also comes only a month after losing an important work contract after an abrupt decision on the owner’s end to shut down effectively immediately. I have been struggling to get back on my feet with applying for jobs, etc. with all the stress I have been experiencing: managing appointments every day, the overall toll on my body and nervous system, time trying to navigate the French system, and finding doctors. I also moved the week after surgery. It’s honestly been a lot!

This has all been very unexpected and I was not prepared for it. I am lucky to have a little bit of casual work at a friend's cafe, however, this just about covers the bills. This has really set me back and at this point, it is unclear if I will receive any reimbursement.

I am only asking for help towards incurred costs as of today, 12/09. I understand you may not be able to help, and as I mentioned, this is hard for me, but I want to say that truly anything helps and will make a difference to me, and will alleviate part of the stress I am experiencing at this moment in my life.

Thank you.