My name is Bernie Goldsmith, but you may be more familiar with my online persona as UAE Exotic Falconry & Finance. It is my pleasure to share, commiserate, and build community online with my falcon network, but unfortunately, I cannot do any of that because I am dying. I am dying from medical neglect from a large healthcare insurance company, of a condition that is extraordinarily painful, but very easy to fix.

A hip implant put into my body has become infected, colonized, by bacteria. That bacteria is slowly leeching into my blood, affecting my other organs, such as my brain and heart. The valves of my heart are currently dissolving because of this appliance infection, and it is excruciating pain that is utterly debilitating. Endocarditis feels like a heart attack that never stops.

I've been able to get some medical treatment for this condition. But it does not eliminate the problem, it only treats the symptoms. Currently, my doctor prescribes me antibiotics, when what is needed is a replacement of this implant, the only approved treatment for this. I will slowly die until I need my heart valves replaced, which is an extremely foreseeable and inevitable result.

Doctors ignore me, they refuse to write down in their encounter notes that I'm experiencing pain at all. They decided that my symptoms are not clinically significant, which, if you know me, is an impossible conclusion. I am utterly crippled by this mentally and physically.

I have tried for years to resolve this stalemate, and have finally had to acquire legal representation to make this happen at all. I recognize that this is unbelievable, but the more you grow to understand the medical system, the more apparent it is that something extra is needed to get the needed treatment.

I am asking you to help finance the legal counsel I have retained to sue for negligence, and to seek specific relief through treatment of this implant infection, taking it out and replacing it with one that is not infected.

I have tried for three years to get treatment and care. This is my last resort.

Update 1: So far we have encountered some expenses.

Retainer: $2,000 (normally $25,000, this is a medical malpractice expert who has agreed to help me out of goodness)

Independent medical examination: $3,000

Preliminary medical expert consultation: $1,500

Records acquisition and document processing: $500 (budgeted)

Filling fees / court costs: $500

As you can see I'm getting a substantial break on prices. It is difficult for me to manage this all because I am considerably weakened. Thank you for your support so far.