Please help me get my fins back on my feet!

Update: Two weeks post-op and starting to feel much better! It's weird to getting used to my leg being longer, which is actually the correct length, but I am slowly getting there. My brother Tad has been a huge help and I am so grateful he has been here to help me through this! I am doing my physical therapy and working through the pain.

I am also starting to paint and will be sending all of my supporters a personal watercolor thank you card and small mahalo!

Check out my new hip->

Over the last year, or more, I have been experiencing extreme hip pain. I was unemployed without insurance and I didn't qualify for Medicare or other government support. So after purchasing insurance that no one accepted on my island, I was near my wits end! Thankfully, I was hired by the Hawaii Climate Change Commission and now have insurance and was finally able to go to the doctor.

What did the doctor find? Well, a bunch of issues! When I was younger, I broke my hip and they put a metal screw in it. When they looked at the x-rays, they found my hip joint had basically collapsed, the metal screw is sticking out of my bone and there are metal shards in my muscle near where they tried to remove the screw.

Now that I finally know what the problem is and what the solution is, it's merely a matter of finding a way to pay for my procedure and cover my expenses while I am on temporary disability. Normally I would never as for help, but with unemployment debt and disability benefits that are only 40% of my pay I’m not sure what to do. I need a bit of help, cover the cost of the procedure and cover my bills while I am on temporary disability.

What's crazy is I currently work two jobs and I still need financial help to cover the cost of my hip replacement! I feel odd asking for help this way but I’m just trying to keep my head above water with the increasing cost of living.

As an ocean lover, marine biologist, surfer, underwater photographer, scuba instructor and free diving enthusiast being stuck on land has been a really hard time for me! With your generousity and support, I will be able to get back in the water and do all of these things again!

With your help, I know I will be able to make a full recovery, and I am extremely grateful for any help you can provide! Mahalo nui loa and thanks for supporting me and making this your good deed for the day!