Ryan Harman's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
This is not easy for me to do, but something I feel has become necessary after the events that have transpired in my life over the past year or so.
As a reminder if you aren’t already aware, I have had major health issues that started in Summer of 2018 and only got worse until just recently. I was experiencing unexplainable nausea, pain, exhaustion and just overall lousiness that really got so bad that in September 2018, my husband Marc had to call 911 to have an ambulance sent to our house because I thought I was having a heart attack. Fortunately, it wasn’t, but it resulted in a week long stay in the hospital and being sent home without a clear diagnosis. I had to go on Short Term Disability from my job at QVC because I felt so bad I couldn’t function, heck I could barely walk across the room without feeling like I was going to fall (and almost did several times.) After the hospital stay, I had both in home and outpatient physical therapy to train myself on walking and balance issues.
I am leaving out a lot of stuff I’m sure, but in the Fall of 2018, I finally found a neurologist who came up with a diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome after noticing an extremely abnormal number in my spinal fluid, a test done that was done in the hospital that no one there seemed to pay attention to. He suggested I try a round of Solumedrol steroid treatment, which helped a LITTLE, but not anything to get excited about. Then for 3 separate visits of 4 days each in January through March, I received IVIG, a blood plasma treatment to help reduce the effects of the GBS. Again, it would help for a day or two, then I’d feel like crap for a week, then settle somewhere in the middle, but certainly not great.
At this point, I had been out on Short Term Disability for 6 months and QVC informed me they would no longer be able to hold my position there and were ending my employment after 19 years. I was able to get on Marc’s medical benefits so I had no loss in insurance fortunately, but anything I had paid towards my deductible on my old plan was essentially erased as I started over again with the new one.
Cut to the beginning of May, where everything just got so bad again, I went to the ER on a Saturday, was sent home, then returned again two days later on Monday and stayed over until Tuesday due to worsening symptoms which now included uncontrollable convulsions and vomiting. To say I was scared is an understatement at this point.
Finally, a new neurologist had a breakthrough after running multiple tests and scans on me in the ER, as he found that the GBS attacked my vagus nerve which to my understanding is the communication hub between my brain and organs. He finally prescribed the right combination of medicines that are providing me some mild relief.
I still have a lot of work to do in my recovery but this was a long overdue breakthrough for me. I still have decreased sensation on the left side of my body which is permanent and I’ll still use a cane to walk but time will tell as I continue to recover. I also have a lot of work to do on my stamina.
This illness has taken so much from me...time, energy, health, my job of 19 years, a social life and money.
Here is the reason for this long post. All during my illness, so many of you have asked me or Marc “If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know”. And a few of you have called, visited, brought food or gifts, sent notes of well wishes, and trust me, all of that is greatly appreciated and I thank you for that!
But right now, the greatest thing you could do to help Marc and I is to donate a few dollars towards helping us pay for the medical expenses I have racked up over the past year.
As I mentioned, I am currently unemployed as of March, and don’t anticipate being able to return to a job until at least the end of Summer as I continue to regain my strength and stamina. And even then I will likely start back with a part time position.
In the past year, I was in the ER on 5 separate occasions, also Urgent Care twice, and used an ambulance once. While insurance helps it doesn’t cover a lot and the bills keep coming in.
That IVIG treatment I mentioned, without insurance would cost $10,000 PER treatment, and I had 12 of them. Even after insurance I am responsible for over $2,000. The ambulance was another $500 out of my pocket and ER co-pays start at $300 alone. All the copays and other expenses keep piling up and I haven’t even seen any of the bills from my two ER visits in May yet.
To add insult to injury, insurance has denied paying for one of the new medicines the doctor prescribed for me, so I am paying for that out of pocket (combined with a coupon to help with some of the expense.)
And because I was let go from QVC, I switched benefits plans mid year so as I said above, any out of pocket or deductible progress I made started over, so I’m getting hit twice.
So this is not easy for me to do, but I am asking if you really want to help me, would you consider donating some money to help towards my medical expenses? I’m not asking for a lot, even $10 would help offset the seemingly never ending bills that continue to arrive in the mail. If you can’t, I understand, I won’t hold it against anyone. But if you have a few extra dollars you would be willing to send our way, Marc and I would be very appreciative of your help as we try to return to a normal life sooner than later.
Thank you for even reading all this and I hope you or your family never have to experience what I’ve been through this past year because I don’t wish it on anyone.
Love,
Ryan and Marc
As a reminder if you aren’t already aware, I have had major health issues that started in Summer of 2018 and only got worse until just recently. I was experiencing unexplainable nausea, pain, exhaustion and just overall lousiness that really got so bad that in September 2018, my husband Marc had to call 911 to have an ambulance sent to our house because I thought I was having a heart attack. Fortunately, it wasn’t, but it resulted in a week long stay in the hospital and being sent home without a clear diagnosis. I had to go on Short Term Disability from my job at QVC because I felt so bad I couldn’t function, heck I could barely walk across the room without feeling like I was going to fall (and almost did several times.) After the hospital stay, I had both in home and outpatient physical therapy to train myself on walking and balance issues.
I am leaving out a lot of stuff I’m sure, but in the Fall of 2018, I finally found a neurologist who came up with a diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome after noticing an extremely abnormal number in my spinal fluid, a test done that was done in the hospital that no one there seemed to pay attention to. He suggested I try a round of Solumedrol steroid treatment, which helped a LITTLE, but not anything to get excited about. Then for 3 separate visits of 4 days each in January through March, I received IVIG, a blood plasma treatment to help reduce the effects of the GBS. Again, it would help for a day or two, then I’d feel like crap for a week, then settle somewhere in the middle, but certainly not great.
At this point, I had been out on Short Term Disability for 6 months and QVC informed me they would no longer be able to hold my position there and were ending my employment after 19 years. I was able to get on Marc’s medical benefits so I had no loss in insurance fortunately, but anything I had paid towards my deductible on my old plan was essentially erased as I started over again with the new one.
Cut to the beginning of May, where everything just got so bad again, I went to the ER on a Saturday, was sent home, then returned again two days later on Monday and stayed over until Tuesday due to worsening symptoms which now included uncontrollable convulsions and vomiting. To say I was scared is an understatement at this point.
Finally, a new neurologist had a breakthrough after running multiple tests and scans on me in the ER, as he found that the GBS attacked my vagus nerve which to my understanding is the communication hub between my brain and organs. He finally prescribed the right combination of medicines that are providing me some mild relief.
I still have a lot of work to do in my recovery but this was a long overdue breakthrough for me. I still have decreased sensation on the left side of my body which is permanent and I’ll still use a cane to walk but time will tell as I continue to recover. I also have a lot of work to do on my stamina.
This illness has taken so much from me...time, energy, health, my job of 19 years, a social life and money.
Here is the reason for this long post. All during my illness, so many of you have asked me or Marc “If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know”. And a few of you have called, visited, brought food or gifts, sent notes of well wishes, and trust me, all of that is greatly appreciated and I thank you for that!
But right now, the greatest thing you could do to help Marc and I is to donate a few dollars towards helping us pay for the medical expenses I have racked up over the past year.
As I mentioned, I am currently unemployed as of March, and don’t anticipate being able to return to a job until at least the end of Summer as I continue to regain my strength and stamina. And even then I will likely start back with a part time position.
In the past year, I was in the ER on 5 separate occasions, also Urgent Care twice, and used an ambulance once. While insurance helps it doesn’t cover a lot and the bills keep coming in.
That IVIG treatment I mentioned, without insurance would cost $10,000 PER treatment, and I had 12 of them. Even after insurance I am responsible for over $2,000. The ambulance was another $500 out of my pocket and ER co-pays start at $300 alone. All the copays and other expenses keep piling up and I haven’t even seen any of the bills from my two ER visits in May yet.
To add insult to injury, insurance has denied paying for one of the new medicines the doctor prescribed for me, so I am paying for that out of pocket (combined with a coupon to help with some of the expense.)
And because I was let go from QVC, I switched benefits plans mid year so as I said above, any out of pocket or deductible progress I made started over, so I’m getting hit twice.
So this is not easy for me to do, but I am asking if you really want to help me, would you consider donating some money to help towards my medical expenses? I’m not asking for a lot, even $10 would help offset the seemingly never ending bills that continue to arrive in the mail. If you can’t, I understand, I won’t hold it against anyone. But if you have a few extra dollars you would be willing to send our way, Marc and I would be very appreciative of your help as we try to return to a normal life sooner than later.
Thank you for even reading all this and I hope you or your family never have to experience what I’ve been through this past year because I don’t wish it on anyone.
Love,
Ryan and Marc
Co-organizers (2)
Ryan P. Harman
Organizer
Plymouth Meeting, PA
Marc Goldberg
Co-organizer