Diverticulitis, The Cherry On Top
This is... Awkward for me.
I have a hard time asking friends and family (let alone strangers) for help. As the bread winner for a family of four, I take great pride in my self reliance and resource management skills. My credit rating, while not spectacular, is good and I have never missed a bill.
However, this year has been particularily unkind to my family and we are struggling.
It started great, with me landing a new job at an amazing company (ABC Supply), but as soon as February hit, our problems began.
My mother in law, whom we had been taking care of at our home, tragically lost her battle with cancer. Once the sadness and emptiness of her loss began to slowly recede, the realities of our new economic situation began to quickly set in. We had to take care of her estate, which included her debts, as well as handle bills, taxes, insurances and utilities for two homes, now. Hers and ours.
Expenses started to accrue, along with our credit card debt. We've struggled, but somehow managed by the skin of our teeth.
Then Friday October 20th happened.
I started to feel pain in my abdomen, which made it very hard to sleep. By Sunday the 22nd I was in agony, so my wife took me to the ER. After a CT scan, I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis and sent home with prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medication.
On Monday the 23rd, I almost fainted while waiting for those prescriptions, and then again on Tuesday the 24th just by getting up to use the restroom. That same afternoon, I was back in the ER.
The diverticular infection had not only gotten worse, but had now caused a perforation in my bowels.
It is now November 6th, two weeks later, and I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow, which will take between 4" and 8" off my colon, as well as carrying a 10% to 20% chance of me ending with a colostomy bag.
As I mentioned before, I am the bread winner for my family. While my job does provide me with health insurance; after all copays, deductibles and associated fees are coupled with lost wages, my family will be left in a very precarious situation.
This is why, with my loved ones in mind, that I am mustering up the courage to swallow my pride and ask our dear friends, family and kind strangers who happen upon this campaign for help. Not for myself, but for my wife, daughter and son.
Anything I have ever done is, has been and will always be for them.
If you donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me take care of my family. And if you don't, thank you for taking the time to read my story.
