Meg's First World Fistula

In December 2014, after reading the book Half The Sky I was finally able to figure out what had been wrong with me ever since the birth of my first child--I had a fistula.  This was confirmed by the urogynocologist in February 2015.  What was disturbing I felt about my experience giving birth was that I wasn't given any discharge instructions about how to care for the fourth degree tear I'd sustained in childbirth.  I've since read the post-surgery packet for the repair surgery and it is six pages long with specific instructions on how many times you can go up stairs, how much you can lift, etc.  Post-delivery: nothing.  So I did too much, went up and down the stairs too many times, did too much walking, and my sutures tore out, which eventually led to a rectovaginal fistula.  I haven't been able to laugh, sneeze, cough, or move in public in six years without the fear of a the worst kind of public humiliation.  Most people have no idea that I have this condition, and I have put a massive amount of effort into ensuring that they never know.   I'm finally having my fistula repaired, but I was not prepared for the $7,000 out of pocket price tag. I thought it was going to be$1,700 out of pocket.  I was wondering if my friends and family, and the kindness of strangers, people could help defray the costs of this ordeal.