Five months from Medicare and working as a freelance journalist I had short-term health insurance with a very high $12,500 deductible and 40% co-insurance on the next $25,000. I could afford the monthly premium and I thought I was in excellent health.

But on my annual winter kayaking trip to remote beaches in Baja I was suddenly struck with acute back pain on Jan. 29.  I thought it was a muscle spasm and self treated for a few days. But it started to move. I drove to Loreto where there was  small hospital and a doctor determined I was suffering from acute kidney failure. I was admitted to the hospital for three days and passed several small kidney stones.

My son flew from NYC to help me. On Feb. 15 he drove me to Cuidad Constitucion where there was a CT Scan machine that found a 11x8 mm stone remained in my left ureter, which is only 4 mm wide. This meant the left kidney could not fully release urine to my bladder.

The next day drove we to Los Cabos so I could fly to Phoenix on the 16th. But that night, I was struck by a 103 degree fever. Luckily, Jed was with me and he called for medical help. If I had been alone I probably would have not made it through the night. I was admitted to Saint Luke's Hospital in Cabo San Jose. The next morning I had 90-minute surgery to break up and remove the stone.

The hospital required that we pay $20,000 before they would begin the operation. And we were presented with a $29,000 bill the next morning.

I have never asked for charity.

I have always been employed, but most of the last 15 years since I left Phoenix New Times I provided my own health care, which I always carried. As times got tighter, my health care coverage was limited to the six-month, short term plans I called "splatter insurance."

I crossed my fingers and hoped I would be okay until I could get Medicare beginning this July.  But that's not what happened.

Thank you, John

Check out a video of the surgery using laser and video technology: