Erin’s Cancer Surgery

Hi my name is Erin and it’s killing me that I have to make one of these, but I desperately need help. To give a little backstory on me and my families situation, when I was five years old my father was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. I’ve watched him go through numerous surgeries throughout the years. And at the age of 18 we felt a questionable lump in my neck, so we ended up going to his doctor and having some testing done. Through ultrasounds and biopsies it was found that genetically he passed me the same cancer that he had(absolutely not his fault of course). At the age of 18 I had surgery to remove my whole thyroid, begin radioactive iodine treatment, and also remain on a thyroid hormone for the rest of my life to replace it’s normal function. We prayed that after everything I went through they got it all, however over the past five years of observation We have since found that it came back. My endocrinologist suggested I go back to the same surgeon I had last time for my second surgery. However, as I called them I realized my previous insurance didn’t cover my whole balance, and I was left owing them a substantial amount. An amount to which I wasn’t able to be seen until I paid off and or settled. To avoid having to pay this amount in order to have surgery, we looked for another alternative and consulted with another surgeon. This other surgeon has since insulted the care of my regular Endocrinologist and told me I have to make a choice on whether I don’t have surgery at all, or he cuts my entire neck open. A choice I did not feel comfortable making as my endocrinologist sent me to him to cut me open in the first place. So through another careful meeting with my endocrinologist we have decided that it is in my best medical interest to go back to mayo clinic to see my original surgeon as we originally planned. However, I have to come up with $3500. Among the pandemic, hours being shorted amongst my household, and wasting quite a bit on the other surgeon, I don’t have that money readily available. I have a special program going on that is paying for me to have insurance until the end of the year. I have 20 days to come up with $3500 or I won’t be able to have surgery or be seen by Mayo Clinic at all. On my own I would be able to save up the $3500 no problem, however I would need longer than 20 days to do so. If anyone can help by any means even if it’s only five dollars it would be Greatly appreciated.

Thank you with all love and God Bless.

-Erin Micalizzi