On Feb 24th, well into the midnight hours, I was seen at my local Emergency Room. Please note that further into this will be mentions of reproductive health and so if that makes you squeamish, you can skip down to my cost transparency just before the donation portion of this note. I did just want to offer up some details for others who might want it.

Normally, I deal with medical issues on my own as we do not have insurance and I am still on the waiting list to be evaluated for disability after a decade of denials. I have been dealing with this ailment off and on for a year now and that night was the first night that I was frightened enough to feel the need to seek out a professional. I am grateful to have done so as I received an official diagnosis for what I had suspected that I was dealing with all along; uterine fibroids and their spontaneous, labor-like painful expulsion.

As of this moment, I am diagnosed with a ‘football sized’ NON-CANCEROUS mass in my uterus… oh and some high blood pressure (but that might be because of… oh I dunno… the stress of it all!). Fibroids in and of themselves are relatively harmless HOWEVER, their side effects can (and do in my case) wreak havoc in the body. The ER doctor suggested that I seek out an OBGYN and discuss the possibility of having a hysterectomy… which is going to be somewhat of a project as again, I am currently uninsured and high risk because of my comorbidities and weight, so to find someone to take on such a risk pro bono is going to be a lot of work.

FOR RIGHT NOW…. I need to focus on managing the financial responsibilities I have already accrued. The following will be a listing of numbers for the sake of transparency; however, I will not be posting photographs of my medical bills as they have personal info. If you would like to see them and you know me personally, please feel free to reach out through on ot the many avenues of communication that I keep open and I will be happy to provide.

Emergency Facility bill: Total Charges $4040.26

This is for the ER facility usage, labs and imaging, medical supplies, nurse and PA team.

Team Health Contracted ER Doctor bill: $1087.00

This is specifically for the Emergency Room Physician, a contract employee who bills separately from the ER.

Vista Radiology bill: $323.00

This is for the Radiology Physician who read and interpreted my CT Scan, a contract employee who bills separately from the ER.

TOTAL EMERGENCY VISIT: $5450.26

Available ‘Private pay’ and ‘low income’ grants/discounts already secured: - $3657.38

Grand Total Due for medical billing: $1792.88

Additional transparency to accommodate for after ER rx, home supplies and Charlie missed wages for taking the following day off to tend to me: $207.12

TOTAL FUNDRAISING ASK: $2000

(My pay back plan will be to prioritize the smaller billings first in ascending order. Anything over the goal will go into a savings account for the hysterectomy I will need to fund in the coming year or two.)

I recognize this is a very big ask and it feels even worse because this was just for the diagnostics… this has YET to solve the problem and that will be another day and another amount if disability doesn’t come through. Still, many of you asked me if there was anything you could do to help with the billing, some even prompting me to make this GFM as an avenue to manage those that want to help financially . I am humbled by your care for my well being and willingness to help with the bill or share it forward to someone who might also have the means to. Thank you in advance for the support. This has been a really hard and humble journey and it is JUST getting started.