Help Sezin’s Bogus Lost Health Insurance Journey

Greetings My Excellent Friends,

In October of 2022 I fulfilled a lifelong dream: I got a traditional book deal. And not just that, my book is the first ever sociocultural deep dive into the one and only Keanu Reeves’ work (Much Ado About Keanu: Toward a Critical Reeves Theory, arriving summer of 2024). Yeah! And while this has been a most excellent adventure, writing about our favorite guy in ways that have never been done before, the universe hasn’t necessarily been on my side. Case in point: unexpectedly losing my health insurance just when I need medical care.

Some background:

I’ve been dealing with chronic hand injuries of carpal tunnel syndrome and intersection syndrome in both my hands, which require periodic corticosteroid injections to help with excruciating pain and inflammation. I’ve entirely shifted my method of work, use voice-to-text whenever possible, home physiotherapy (I even have my own mini ultrasound machine), and only write 1500 words every 3 days while taking regular breaks. But these injuries get activated regardless of doing everything I’m supposed to and eventually only my orthopedist can help. But these doctor visits cost anywhere from $200 without insurance. Totally bogus, dude. Worse, after my orthopedist visit on May 16 my diagnosis has now past the point of no return and I require surgery on my right hand. I’ve had to extend my campaign goal because of this.

Florida’s governor has canceled the general marketplace for affordable health care plans and if my husband doesn’t find a new job that offers health insurance, our out-of-pocket for supplemental insurance is around $430/month. Even though the deductible is enormous and I’ll essentially pay for the entire surgery in cash, I still need insurance for all the pre-surgery prep like bloodwork, x-rays, maybe an MRI, etc. Not to mention the months of physiotherapy I will need post-operation before I can return to work. Most non-triumphant news, man. We are aiming for a late fall/early winter surgery date, giving me just enough time to finish Much Ado About Keanu and secure funds for all this major medical care.

But of course it can’t only be that I’m having next-level carpal tunnel syndrome. I’ve also been getting terrible headaches from the eye strain of needing new glasses for some time now. I had no notice when I lost my insurance overnight, so couldn’t get into the eye doctor in time for discounted frames and a free eye exam: This comes to $829 without insurance since my eyesight is already so bad and now I also need progressive lenses to read, racking on several hundred dollars to the price tag. Heinous to the Maximus.

My publishing deal only covered a few months of my expenses and I’ve already exhausted my savings on other emergencies. Asking for this kind of help to cover my medical bills is extremely hard for me to do. Which is why I have more than thanks to offer folks who donate $100 or more: You have the option to have your name (or someone else’s) in the acknowledgements of Much Ado About Keanu as one of my medical angels. Just let me know in a note, email, or comment with the correct spelling of the name and I’ll include you.

Thank you so much for reading this far and for any help you can offer. If you're unable to donate (I get it, things are tough all over), simply sharing my campaign is a huge deal that I would appreciate to Klaatu’s planet and back again!

Yours faithfully in Keanu,

Sezin

Www.Sezin.org