My name is Linda Gann, and I've spent my life working and taking care of my family. I currently find myself in an unfamiliar position where I need to ask for help. Asking for help is not something that I'm used to doing. I'm normally giving the help.

I have some medical issues that require surgery to correct. I do have health insurance through my employer, which is great, but I'm needing help with my patient responsibility portion for the medical procedures I've already received as well as the main surgery that I need.

A little back story for context. Back in 2013, I had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I didn't know it at the time, but the decision to have that surgery saved my life. This was a bariatric surgery to assist with losing weight; I was a big girl. After the surgery, I had lost about 50 or so pounds and went to my yearly GYN visit as I had been doing every year. During the visit, when it came to the part where the doctor presses on your abdomen, let's just say it was extremely painful, which was not normal. I was sent for testing/imaging, which showed there was something in my uterus that shouldn't have been there. I was referred to an oncologist, and long story short, it was a tumor. I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and had to have a total hysterectomy, then chemo. Not a fun time in my life, but had it not been for the VSG, I may not have survived since I had no symptoms. By the way, you know how they say that when you lose your hair from chemo it grows back thicker? Well, I'm here to tell you that that is not true, at least for me it wasn't, lol!

Fast forward to today. As a result of my VSG, I have developed a hiatal hernia which needs repair along with a gallbladder full of gallstones that needs to come out. The doctor also wants to do a biopsy of my liver. The most important part of the surgery for me is to fix the hiatal hernia. Basically, my stomach is slipping through my diaphragm up into my chest. This causes gastroesophageal reflux. Heartburn and acid reflux times a thousand. I wake up choking on my own bile several times a night. I chew antacids like they are candy.

To correct this issue, I need to have my VSG converted to a Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass. By doing this procedure it should permanently fix the hiatal hernia.

I'm scheduled to have this procedure along with a Cholecystectomy to remove my gallbladder and the liver biopsy on November 7th, 2025. I will be out of work for 4 to 6 weeks.

Unfortunately, I live paycheck to paycheck like a lot of people, and there never seems to be anything left after expenses. Any help that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Linda Gann