18574.00 total is approximately what I have spent on my medical costs since July 4, 2025. And I want to mention that I live in Costa Rica. If I would have waited through our public health care system I would had to wait 2 -4 years for this operation. I would not be able to wait that long. July 4 ,2015 is the date when I started experiencing pain in my right leg and back pain in my lower Lumbar area. Which progressively kept getting worse day by day. I kept trying different treatments like physical therapy, acupuncture, massages, Stretches, light chiropractic treatment and many more. None worked and I wanted at all costs to avoid back surgery. Hearing and knowing of many horror stories of family members and friends that had back surgeries and were left worse than they were before. So that scared me beyond belief. So I even avoided the subject. However, on Thursday October 2, 2025 I had a medical appointment with Doctor Katherine Escoe a Neurologist. She examined me and spoke to me in a comforting, warm, truthful but direct way. She showed me simply and clearly on my MRI results what my true lower back condition was. My sister in law Marizita who is a nurse was present during this medical visit and she concurred with the doctor. So after quick prayerful contemplation I knew all my options had been exhausted. Katherine, kindly responded with an option to operate that weekend on Saturday October 4, 2025. On Monday October 6, 2025 she would be on vacation for two weeks. With the pain I had been suffering I felt I had to accept this opportunity for this back surgery on Saturday. I hoped that after this surgery I might start to slowly feel some relief from the excruciating pain that I had been experiencing. Up to this time I was putting most of my medical expenses on my credit card because I had no other option. So, these surgical costs were also all going to have to go on my credit card. So, that's what I did. I placed all these surgical and previous cost on my credit card. However, this is not the full story. If you would like to hear the rest of the story and would like to see all the medical receipts I would be glad to share them with you. Please contact me with any questions and I'd be glad to answer them.