Gastric Sleeve Surgery for Chris Wells
Donation protected
Hello everyone. This is David Hill. I am reaching out to you on behalf of my friend Chris Wells. Chris is in dire need of having Gastric Sleeve surgery. It is a surgery that his private health insurance will not cover any part of. Even with the intervention of his heart doctor, the insurance company will not make a exception to the exclusion. I asked Chris if he minded me taking on the responsibility of setting up a GoFundMe account on his behalf. With his permission, I am earnestly asking for you to prayerfully consider this effort to get Chris the surgery that he so desperately needs. I am reminded from scripture that we are to instructed to "Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2 NLT)
You see, I know Chris very well. I met him about seven years ago when I started singing in a quartet with him. We traveled fairly extensively together and quickly became very good friends. Three years ago, Chris, my wife Kristen, my son Aaron and myself felt led of the Lord to form our own gospel group Alabaster Voices. With travel, set up, tear down and loading the equipment, we see up close just a very few of the the struggles that Chris faces. Yet for all the obstacles and challenges, he presses on. I tell you this to lay the groundwork for understanding that Chris has a heart for people and he loves the Lord. He loves to sing and is one of the best baritone singers that I have ever known. He is faithful to his friends, his family and his church.
Chris has lived with our family for 2 years now. I see his daily struggle first-hand. I see the grimace on his face every night as he stands up from his chair to go down a flight of stairs to his room. He faces the same excruciatingly painful task only a few hours later as he has to come back up those stairs to head to work. He hurts no matter what time of the day it is. His knees are worn out. He becomes a little less mobile with each passing day. The weight he carries will not allow the numerous sores on his legs to heal. Poor circulation in his legs causes skin blisters to occur. He has been to the wound care center almost every week over this past summer. He thought the sores were finally getting better, but he woke two days ago to brand new sores. Recently, he had steroid shots in the knees but those proved to give no relief.
Chris has struggled with weight loss the whole time I have known him. I can tell you for sure that he has tried wholeheartedly to get his weight down. He has cut out soda. He has tried portioned meals. He has tried all sorts of diet modifications. He has tried exercise. He has been a long-time member of a fitness center that he frequents on average three times a week. Weight loss simply hasn't happened the way he hoped it would. The simple fact of the matter is, without the extreme measure of having gastric sleeve surgery, Chris' health and quality of life will continue to decline. I have seen this accelerate greatly in the past year.
I humbly ask you to consider giving to this very worthy cause. Since his insurance will not cover any part of the procedure, Chis will be considered a self-pay patient. He was given the following breakdown of the charges involved based on his initial consultation:
Hospital Charge: $8635.00
Radiology Fee: $70.00
Anesthesiologist Fee: $1200.00
Mental Health Evaluation: $105.00
Dietician Services (per visit) $30.00
Surgeon Fee: $2090.00
Liver Prep: $160.00
Diagnostic Pathology Fee: $200.00
Total $12,490.00
Alabaster Voices would like to thank each donor by sending them a copy of our latest project, fittingly titled "I'm Gonna Make It". Simply request your copy, free of charge after you make your donation of any size to this GoFundMe campaign. Please message your request for our CD to the Alabaster Voices Facebook page. Since some may prefer to give anonymously and no information will be known to me except your name if you choose to share that, I ask that when you message me for your gift CD that you include your name and mailing address.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. Now, please prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you do. If you can't give, I understand. Times are tough for a lot of folks. I ask that you pray for Chris and this effort whether you can give or not.
God Bless,
David
P.S. Please share!
You see, I know Chris very well. I met him about seven years ago when I started singing in a quartet with him. We traveled fairly extensively together and quickly became very good friends. Three years ago, Chris, my wife Kristen, my son Aaron and myself felt led of the Lord to form our own gospel group Alabaster Voices. With travel, set up, tear down and loading the equipment, we see up close just a very few of the the struggles that Chris faces. Yet for all the obstacles and challenges, he presses on. I tell you this to lay the groundwork for understanding that Chris has a heart for people and he loves the Lord. He loves to sing and is one of the best baritone singers that I have ever known. He is faithful to his friends, his family and his church.
Chris has lived with our family for 2 years now. I see his daily struggle first-hand. I see the grimace on his face every night as he stands up from his chair to go down a flight of stairs to his room. He faces the same excruciatingly painful task only a few hours later as he has to come back up those stairs to head to work. He hurts no matter what time of the day it is. His knees are worn out. He becomes a little less mobile with each passing day. The weight he carries will not allow the numerous sores on his legs to heal. Poor circulation in his legs causes skin blisters to occur. He has been to the wound care center almost every week over this past summer. He thought the sores were finally getting better, but he woke two days ago to brand new sores. Recently, he had steroid shots in the knees but those proved to give no relief.
Chris has struggled with weight loss the whole time I have known him. I can tell you for sure that he has tried wholeheartedly to get his weight down. He has cut out soda. He has tried portioned meals. He has tried all sorts of diet modifications. He has tried exercise. He has been a long-time member of a fitness center that he frequents on average three times a week. Weight loss simply hasn't happened the way he hoped it would. The simple fact of the matter is, without the extreme measure of having gastric sleeve surgery, Chris' health and quality of life will continue to decline. I have seen this accelerate greatly in the past year.
I humbly ask you to consider giving to this very worthy cause. Since his insurance will not cover any part of the procedure, Chis will be considered a self-pay patient. He was given the following breakdown of the charges involved based on his initial consultation:
Hospital Charge: $8635.00
Radiology Fee: $70.00
Anesthesiologist Fee: $1200.00
Mental Health Evaluation: $105.00
Dietician Services (per visit) $30.00
Surgeon Fee: $2090.00
Liver Prep: $160.00
Diagnostic Pathology Fee: $200.00
Total $12,490.00
Alabaster Voices would like to thank each donor by sending them a copy of our latest project, fittingly titled "I'm Gonna Make It". Simply request your copy, free of charge after you make your donation of any size to this GoFundMe campaign. Please message your request for our CD to the Alabaster Voices Facebook page. Since some may prefer to give anonymously and no information will be known to me except your name if you choose to share that, I ask that when you message me for your gift CD that you include your name and mailing address.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. Now, please prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you do. If you can't give, I understand. Times are tough for a lot of folks. I ask that you pray for Chris and this effort whether you can give or not.
God Bless,
David
P.S. Please share!Organizer
David Hill
Organizer
Apison, TN