Help Samantha Receive Life Changing Surgery

Thanks for clicking to read about my story.

My name is Samantha and I had been told through out my life that losing weight will only help my situation. That nothing could go wrong with losing weight. In the past 2 years, I lost 120lbs. The photo in the cover photo is when I was 20lbs into the journey. I now have what the surgeons call a pendulum of skin on my stomach and in other areas.

I moved to Cusco, Peru to live my life and experience things I couldn't in the United States. I lost the 100lbs from all I did down here. I have been living here for 2 years and while I moved down here for dental surgeries, I did not plan for surgery to remove skin.

I didn't think it was an issue to have some skin hanging. I have seen many people walking around with worse cases. I stopped feeling my upper thigh on my right side so I sought out a surgeon to see if we could do something (I was thinking liposuction around the nerves) to relieve pressure... they told me I was incredibly misformed and my case was urgernt.

The doctors have all said it is paramount that I get operated on promptly. The skin was twisting and pinching nerves. From the amount of free flow the skin has is dangerous for my future health. If I do not get the surgery soon, I could lose the feeling in my legs.

I had a job up until last month. I worked for a company that was continuously breaking laws and treating their workers like trash. I couldn't continue being overworked and unappreciated so I left my job 3 weeks prior to receiving this news. I have been selling my artwork, and while this pays for my normal bills, it does not help with medical emergencies, I did not have anything saved back!!

My Medical outline is as such:

Consultations: 545 soles ($143)

Skin Removal on abdomen: 20,000 soles ( $5,263)

Skin Removal on arms: 15,000 soles ($3,947)

Skin Removal on legs: 15,000 soles ($3,947)

Translator: $1000

Transportation and Meals: 520 soles ($136)

Medical equipment: 1,040 soles ($273)

Hospitalization: ~$500

Hematologist: ???

Dermatologist: ???

Nutritionist: ???

The skin removal on my abdomen would save my nerves from further damage. The other two surgeries will be held 3-4 months from the prior surgery. My main concern is the first surgery so I can escape danger zone.

I have yet to meet with the specialists. They are required to be a part of my surgery as I am at high risk of bleeding out. The doctor I have selected refuses to move forward unless he receives the green light from them. I have no idea how much they might be on top of this. So far it is estimated to be $15, 209. The doctor I am working with wants to move forward as soon as possible and wants to start in January. Hospitals here have a policy of prepayment, so I cannot move forward without the full amount for the surgery.

At $6000, I can start the surgery in January by starting on my stomach. This could be the difference between feeling my legs or losing feeling forever.

I still would have chosen to lose weight regardless of the complications I am feeling now. The only difference I would have changed the amount of money I had put aside up until this moment. No one really tells you about the complications that can arise from getting healthier. They also don't tell you how long you will not be able to move on your own. As I do not have help down here to help me during the healing process, I have to stay in the hospital or hotel and hire nurses to help me use the restroom. I will be sleeping a lot and will not be able to work on artwork while I am healing. This also means I will not have enough money to pay rent if I use my personal funds for the surgery. I ask if you can help, please do. If you can't, please share the word. Skin removal is seen often as cosmetic surgery and thus is elective, but the surgery will change the pressure on my nerves and could change my life forever.