Help Alice Their Much-Needed Breast Reduction!
Donation protected
Hi! My name is Alice, I’m 22 years old, and I’ve had chronic back pain since I was 13 due to my chest!
It’s hard for me to ask for money like this, because I never thought I’d be in the position I am, but I am asking for any help that I can instead of being stubborn.
Over the past year, I’ve been going to various doctors, therapists, and - finally - a plastic surgeon to try and get my insurance to cover a breast reduction for my 40H breasts . Some would think that having a large chest is a blessing, but since puberty, despite working out, proper dieting, properly fitted bras, and doing everything else they tell you to do to remedy back pain, nothing has helped me feel comfortable in my skin nor has anything reduced the pain I’m in daily. From the time I started working as a teenager to the current day, work shifts that are longer than a couple of hours at work leave me in tears from the pain I’m in. I can’t fit into clothes comfortably, I can’t work out regularly, and I can’t fully enjoy my life.
After being ignored and fighting with doctors for such a long time, I was finally able to find a doctor who took me seriously and work with him to have my breast reduction approved and get covered by insurance. However, my insurance only covers so much, and the out-of-pocket cost for the procedure is going to be around $2600, not including the cost of my medications, pre- and post-op appointments, the time I have to take off of work, and anything that could possibly go wrong.
In normal circumstances, I would have had at least a large portion of this money in my savings account, but the past year has depleted my savings and I’m barely getting by month to month, despite help from friends. I end up spending more than I make regularly, not because I want to. Vet bills, extensive car repairs (over $3000 between mine and my wife’s cars) and many more to come, unemployment, and many, many hospital bills from an emergency last autumn have made it nearly impossible to save money the past few months. Not only that, but very few places are hiring due to the pandemic, and working more is a near impossibility because of my chronic pain. I could put this procedure off further, but there is no guarantee that the authorization by my insurance to have it done will last, and I never know whether the insurance I have through my parents will change, whether I will have to start the process all over, or whether I will be able to get approved at a later date. I am incredibly fortunate to have insurance, but I still have to pay so much out of pocket for any medical services I need. I am hoping that I will be able to utilize the upcoming stimulus along with the money I make here, but I can't count on that coming on time.
My surgery is scheduled for April 16th, and if I can’t get at least near the amount I need, I may have to cancel the procedure. Anything you donate will go to the costs of my medications, surgery, and appointments, as well as supporting my wife and I during the two weeks I have to take off from work when I can’t make any significant income. In the event that I have money left over from this fundraiser, I will be donating the remainder (once I am financially back on my feet) to Planned Parenthood and to other GoFundMe’s for other individuals’ breast reductions and top surgeries (because I know how life-changing these procedures can be). By donating you will be helping change my life and helping end nearly ten years of chronic back pain. Please donate if you can, or share this - it would mean a lot!!
It’s hard for me to ask for money like this, because I never thought I’d be in the position I am, but I am asking for any help that I can instead of being stubborn.
Over the past year, I’ve been going to various doctors, therapists, and - finally - a plastic surgeon to try and get my insurance to cover a breast reduction for my 40H breasts . Some would think that having a large chest is a blessing, but since puberty, despite working out, proper dieting, properly fitted bras, and doing everything else they tell you to do to remedy back pain, nothing has helped me feel comfortable in my skin nor has anything reduced the pain I’m in daily. From the time I started working as a teenager to the current day, work shifts that are longer than a couple of hours at work leave me in tears from the pain I’m in. I can’t fit into clothes comfortably, I can’t work out regularly, and I can’t fully enjoy my life.
After being ignored and fighting with doctors for such a long time, I was finally able to find a doctor who took me seriously and work with him to have my breast reduction approved and get covered by insurance. However, my insurance only covers so much, and the out-of-pocket cost for the procedure is going to be around $2600, not including the cost of my medications, pre- and post-op appointments, the time I have to take off of work, and anything that could possibly go wrong.
In normal circumstances, I would have had at least a large portion of this money in my savings account, but the past year has depleted my savings and I’m barely getting by month to month, despite help from friends. I end up spending more than I make regularly, not because I want to. Vet bills, extensive car repairs (over $3000 between mine and my wife’s cars) and many more to come, unemployment, and many, many hospital bills from an emergency last autumn have made it nearly impossible to save money the past few months. Not only that, but very few places are hiring due to the pandemic, and working more is a near impossibility because of my chronic pain. I could put this procedure off further, but there is no guarantee that the authorization by my insurance to have it done will last, and I never know whether the insurance I have through my parents will change, whether I will have to start the process all over, or whether I will be able to get approved at a later date. I am incredibly fortunate to have insurance, but I still have to pay so much out of pocket for any medical services I need. I am hoping that I will be able to utilize the upcoming stimulus along with the money I make here, but I can't count on that coming on time.
My surgery is scheduled for April 16th, and if I can’t get at least near the amount I need, I may have to cancel the procedure. Anything you donate will go to the costs of my medications, surgery, and appointments, as well as supporting my wife and I during the two weeks I have to take off from work when I can’t make any significant income. In the event that I have money left over from this fundraiser, I will be donating the remainder (once I am financially back on my feet) to Planned Parenthood and to other GoFundMe’s for other individuals’ breast reductions and top surgeries (because I know how life-changing these procedures can be). By donating you will be helping change my life and helping end nearly ten years of chronic back pain. Please donate if you can, or share this - it would mean a lot!!
Organizer
Allison McCabe
Organizer
Wilmington, NC