Medical bills and living expenses

In 1983 I was in a car accident. I ended up having my head break through the front windshield. I got the medical attention I needed (mostly ;-) and settled with the insurance company. Back then it wasn't typical protocol to always treat for a Traumatic Brain Injury. I'm sure I had one, a concussion, but I never got treated for that.

Fast forward to 2019 and I'm needing to have surgery for Cervical Spinal Stenosis. Here's a link with info about it: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uh2003spec.

There's really no way to know if the accident is related, but typically it's caused by trauma to the neck. And that was severe trauma.

I've been seeing my back specialist for a few years now as I have problems with my neck and back. It manifests through lots of pain and other symptoms like numbness, loss of balance, weakness, and headaches to name a few. My symptoms have been getting worse over the past year. My doctor knew this would happen and told me eventually that I would need surgery. I asked her what would happen if I never had surgery and she told me that I would be paralyzed because the signals from my brain to my body would be cut off at my spinal cord in my neck. I got a second opinion and was told to have surgery asap.

I definitely don't want to be paralyzed. My doctor is urging me to get it done now. So I am.

I met with the surgeon and I am scheduled for surgery on Thursday, August 15, 2019. I will have an MRI on Monday, August 12 so the surgeon can see what is currently happening in my neck so that he can be well informed. The costs for the surgery, the surgeon, and the MRI are in excess of $25,000. I'm also asking for help with my living expenses for two months time while I recover. I've estimated them to be modestly at $2,000 per month for a total of $4,000. My total expenses would be upwards of $29,000.

I do have insurance so part of my medical costs will be covered. Thank goodness! I don't have a job right now as it has been difficult for me to sustain work. 

The funds raised here will help to cover my surgery costs, the surgeon, my MRI, and some outstanding medical bills. I also will need help with living expenses which currently total close to $2,000 per month. I don't have any savings or any retirement. I will be out of commission for six weeks so I'll need assistance with my living expenses for two months. I'm hopeful about securing a job after I've healed and know that it'll be another two weeks until I get my first pay check from the job I do get.

This help will give me a great deal of peace so that I can focus on healing and get back on my feet by my 58th birthday in October. I am a huge believer that love is the greatest force for good and that your assistance in helping me heal is a version of love. The more love, the more healing.

Thank you for reading this and for considering helping me. I'm grateful for the GoFundMe platform and to each of you that understands and has compassion for situations like mine.

If there is anything I can do for you, something that would feel good and like an exchange of energy, please let me know. I'm open and would love to be of service and add love to your life.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you. I love you. 

Mary

PS: That's me and my sister Monica.