For over a year I had been having extensive pain in my abdomen, hitting infrequently and seemingly at random. It would wake me up and keep from getting any sleep, keep me miserable during long shifts at work, and make me sick to the point of vomiting up much of the food I managed to eat during the bad times.

As many of you might be expecting on hearing some of this, this was my gallbladder. It was inflamed, producing stones, and seeping with toxins for the better part of this period of time, worsening slowly regardless of my diet, activity levels, or any medicine I took, all of which were methods taken to try and get better. Unfortunately, worse came to worst, and just last month I was forced to take a trip to the ER to try and get some help.

As luck would have it, this was the peak of my issues; three days in a row with no sleep and massive, burning pain ramping up in my side and spreading throughout my body was an indicator that this was life or death, and the worst of it hit when I was already in intensive care. After another full day of waiting, awake and in constant pain, I was operated on. The surgeon masterfully removed my gallbladder, and I was left to slowly start my recovery.

Today, I am markedly better, able to work and sleep with no issues, though I'm still nailing down my new food restrictions. Under better circumstances, that would have been the end of it. However, there is one main problem.

I do not have insurance.

With my state's tighter restrictions on health insurance, I don't qualify. I'm here today setting this up to ask anyone willing to provide a bit of assistance to help me cover the costs incurred.

For many, many years I've worked extensive hours at one job or another, laying down hours to help my mother, who herself is disabled. Now that I need help, though, I don't want to be forced between being able to keep my family housed and fed or paying for the surgery that kept me alive, and I refuse to let my family sink into debt over this.

Please, if you can contribute any amount, even small donations, it would be greatly appreciated. Every bit helps, and though the $20,000 goal doesn't cover the whole cost of my hospital bill, it would be enough to keep us afloat and let me pay this off before it buries me.

This is my hour of need, and though I feel embarrassed having to go to the public with this, I appreciate your time spent reading this and any help you can offer. If you have any questions, ask away, and feel free to share this if you know anyone that would be willing to donate.

Thank you.