Jen at "The Alley" in Oakland Needs Your Help!
Donation protected
WHO I AM
For those who don't know me, my name is Jennifer "Jen" Davis. I work as a bartender at The Alley Piano Bar and Grill in Oakland - home of the late, legendary Rod Dibble - where it has been a privlege to serve the community for more than 20 years.
THE LAST PIANO BAR
is a short video filmed by Katherine Corringe featuring Rod and myself.
(if you don't see the video in your browser window, you can watch it at the following address: https://youtu.be/EPVWAlvMbgw )
WHY I NEED YOUR HELP
I have a medical condition that requires surgery that my insurance does not cover. The time that l will have to be off work for surgery and recovery will be entirely unpaid.
BACKGROUND OF THE CONDITION
Twenty-seven years ago, l got breast implants to correct a congenital deformity. For the following quarter century, l had no problems at all with the implants. Then, about a year ago, l started to feel pain in my right side, like a muscle strain. I tolerated the pain for about a year, but recently the pain has intensified and other symptoms appeared. It turns out that my right implant has a capsular contracture, and in my case, surgery is necessary.
ABOUT CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE
Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue tightens around the implant. This causes the breast to harden and has become very painful. The treatment for this condition is called an "en bloc" removal surgery. Click here to be directed to a website with a great explanation of the condition. (If the link does not work, go to this address: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-is-capsular-contracture-and-how-can-it-be-treated?amp=1 )
MORE ABOUT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES' DENIAL OF COVERAGE FOR WOMEN WITH MY CONDITION
There are numerous women out there who need this treatment, and the insurance companies are still refusing to pay for it. Instead, they force women to have a much riskier, partial procedure. While this issue remains unsolved, many women - such as myself - are running out of time and need surgery right away. Click here to be directed to a website that explains this challenge. (If the link does not work, go to this address: https://healingbreastimplantillness.com/explant-surgeons/ )
WHERE THINGS STAND TODAY
My condition has advanced noticably in the past few weeks and will continue until l am unable to work at all. My goal is to stay ahead of that happening, and to have the surgery by May. As things change, l will post updates here.
MY HEARTFELT THANKS GOES OUT
To anyone who has taken the time to read my story, l want to say "thank you and l love you", whether or not you are able or choose to donate. You can help me get my story out there by sharing my link with your networks, or just by spreading the word to anyone with whom you may want to share my story!
For those who don't know me, my name is Jennifer "Jen" Davis. I work as a bartender at The Alley Piano Bar and Grill in Oakland - home of the late, legendary Rod Dibble - where it has been a privlege to serve the community for more than 20 years.
THE LAST PIANO BAR
is a short video filmed by Katherine Corringe featuring Rod and myself.
(if you don't see the video in your browser window, you can watch it at the following address: https://youtu.be/EPVWAlvMbgw )
WHY I NEED YOUR HELP
I have a medical condition that requires surgery that my insurance does not cover. The time that l will have to be off work for surgery and recovery will be entirely unpaid.
BACKGROUND OF THE CONDITION
Twenty-seven years ago, l got breast implants to correct a congenital deformity. For the following quarter century, l had no problems at all with the implants. Then, about a year ago, l started to feel pain in my right side, like a muscle strain. I tolerated the pain for about a year, but recently the pain has intensified and other symptoms appeared. It turns out that my right implant has a capsular contracture, and in my case, surgery is necessary.
ABOUT CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE
Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue tightens around the implant. This causes the breast to harden and has become very painful. The treatment for this condition is called an "en bloc" removal surgery. Click here to be directed to a website with a great explanation of the condition. (If the link does not work, go to this address: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-is-capsular-contracture-and-how-can-it-be-treated?amp=1 )
MORE ABOUT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES' DENIAL OF COVERAGE FOR WOMEN WITH MY CONDITION
There are numerous women out there who need this treatment, and the insurance companies are still refusing to pay for it. Instead, they force women to have a much riskier, partial procedure. While this issue remains unsolved, many women - such as myself - are running out of time and need surgery right away. Click here to be directed to a website that explains this challenge. (If the link does not work, go to this address: https://healingbreastimplantillness.com/explant-surgeons/ )
WHERE THINGS STAND TODAY
My condition has advanced noticably in the past few weeks and will continue until l am unable to work at all. My goal is to stay ahead of that happening, and to have the surgery by May. As things change, l will post updates here.
MY HEARTFELT THANKS GOES OUT
To anyone who has taken the time to read my story, l want to say "thank you and l love you", whether or not you are able or choose to donate. You can help me get my story out there by sharing my link with your networks, or just by spreading the word to anyone with whom you may want to share my story!
Organizer
Jennifer Davis
Organizer
Oakland, CA