Help with paying for medical bills that are not covered.

My trip to Texas in September took a terrible turn when I was rushed to the hospital with abdominal pain. I was told I had intussusception and needed emergency surgery to correct it. My best friend contacted my husband back home and told him he should get down to the hospital right away.

Over the next 23 days, I underwent five surgeries, each carrying a risk of not surviving. Due to the severity of the intussusception, a portion of my small and large intestines had to be removed, which also required adjustments to a stomach surgery I had over 20 years ago. A few days after the surgeries, I had bile in my abdomen and became septic. During the emergency surgery, they removed a part of my colon as well as my appendix. During my recovery from surgery, over a liter of fluid was found and removed from my left lung, necessitating an additional surgery.

I had an incredible team of surgeons who were puzzled by how these events unfolded. After spending 23 days in a hospital in San Antonio, the team decided it was time for me to travel back to Wisconsin to continue my care close to home. We found a surgeon and his team who were willing to take on my case, and we planned a two-day drive back home. Once I got home, I met with my new surgical team and was immediately hospitalized. After stabilizing my condition, I underwent two additional surgeries to remove all infections from my open abdomen. During these procedures, the doctors also discovered large abscesses that were releasing toxins into my abdominal wound. The abscesses were opened and cleaned out in preparation for a skin graft once all the infections had cleared up. After being on antibiotics for a week with no signs of infection, I had the skin graft surgery. Three weeks into my hospital stay, I was informed that a large portion of my skin graft was a complete success. However, a small area where the abscess was located did not close, which means I will need to keep the wound vac on for at least another week.

The love, prayers, and support I've received in the past two months have truly helped me fight through trauma, pain, and feelings of hopelessness.

Due to the severity of my medical condition, I am limited in what I can physically do for the next two years. During that time, I will undergo a few more surgeries to create an abdominal wall that will protect the entire wound area. With these limitations, my career and passion have been put on hold. Those who know me understand how deeply this news has impacted my life.

Medical bills have started arriving, and we have discovered that my stay in Texas isn't covered by our insurance plan. Most people who know me understand how difficult it is for me to ask for help or even to accept the help being offered. I'm the type of person who prefers to fight through challenges on my own. However, given how severely this medical condition has impacted my life, I am putting my ego and pride aside and asking for assistance.

I truly appreciate all the support I've received thus far. If you are able to help out financially, it would definitely alleviate some of the stress. Even if you could share this with others, that would be greatly appreciated.