Links Needs Some Surgery Help

Hey all. Most of you know me as LinksMistress16 on Twitch, and call me Links.

Recently, I got some rough news that the nerves in my spine are being crushed by some herniated discs (L3-5). In comparing my past years MRI's, it's gotten worse and worse even with medical intervention and at this point, I have no choice but to have surgery to correct it. While it's a surgery with an incredibly high success rate, I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't scared that I could lose my life or my mobility but with the condition my life is now in with the pain and not feeling my left leg at all, I've decided to take the chance and move forward with the procedure. Surgery is scheduled for September 14th.

I have medical insurance through my job. Unfortunately, it's shotty at best. I've spent the last couple of weeks trying to get approvals that I need but it's been an uphill battle. Insurance is currently pushing back on my "requirement to have the surgery" to start with but has also denied coverage on things like nursing care afterward (I'm required to have a drain in my back for a minimum of 2 weeks in addition to the surgical site that the doctor wants a trained nurse to check on and care for), most of my rehabilitation and physical therapy (I need 12 weeks minimum and they're covering 5 weeks at 80%), and bed rental to keep me in a central location in my house that isn't up two flights of stairs and nowhere near the bathroom. They've denied coverage for the plastic surgeon my doctor is insisting on using to help him close up the 4-5 inch deep cut into my spine so I will have to pay for his services out of pocket. And of course, there's the out-of-pocket I need to pay the hospital as the insurance only covers 70% after I've met my deductible.

I've exhausted all my appeals at this point, and my surgical coordinator has informed me there's nothing else that she can do beyond what has been submitted, including filing for financial hardship. I'm already losing income because I will need to be on short-term disability which only pays me a portion of my bills and I haven't figured out how to make rent, let alone pay for this surgery.

So now we're here, with me asking for help. I don't like to ask, because I know how not great the economy is and I'm very lucky to be able to survive on my income for both Dad and myself even if it's not the greatest conditions, but this is the make-or-break for me even being able to step into the operating room and come out with a properly healed spine. If you're reading this, I appreciate you even ending up on this page and reading through to the end.

All funds donated to this will go only to medical expenses and possibly to cover rent shortages. The estimate the surgical coordinator gave me is what I've set the goal for. It is just an estimate so I may need more or less. I can't give you any other details because I don't have any at this time and will share all information I get once I get it.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart and with my entire soul.