Help us overcome this life altering event.We need your help!

Sean Ward is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hello Inter-world! Last year (April ) I began a journey of weight loss. Diet after diet had failed or I had failed them. One day I got on a scale and had had enough. 347.6 lbs and more excuses than a teenager caught in the hall without a pass. So I started taking Golo ( after doing some homework ) 3 times a day before meals , watching what I was eating , portion control and omitting as much of the bad as I could. I currently am at 268.8 and still going , though the setback below paused things for a bit. January 18th 2024 my life would change forever.

I had felt a little off the 3 days prior but this being winter and Covid still bouncing around , I thought I just had a bug of some kind. I was in trouble and didn't know it. I went to work on the 17th , felt pretty bad but made it through. Thursday however , that would not be the case. I got to work , felt really bad but figured I could work through it. I was wrong. I went outside for some crisp 7 degree air and everything changed in minutes. I went down and went down fast. I was bleeding inside and rather than get descriptive , let's just say there was no mistaking that fact. I was dying and I almost lost my life to the internal bleeding. It happened while at work and was a very scary ordeal. Had it not been for a few key people and actions , my survival would not have been possible. Had I also been 350 lbs , I DEFINITELY don't survive.

1st time in an ambulance running sirens and 90+ mph , then the Emergency room , Emergency surgery and blood transfusions and days in the Med Surge ICU at Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville TN has left me in a really bad spot. (Pics of bills thus far at bottom). My Drs said to STOP taking Golo which I have and even reached out to them with everything. Without the Drs putting it in writing ( which they can't, they think it's related but without major testing and labs they just can't legally put Golo on blast ) I reached out to Golo and pretty much got the door shut in my face. They distanced themselves from it as far as possible. Oh but they offered me a refund of the product , oh how nice. They claimed to never have this happen and tried to use my weight their product helped me lose , AGAINST ME. Without hiring my own corporate product law attorney , I can't really do anything. That could take years and 1000s of $$$ that we don't have ,and without any certainty we would come out victorious. I was hoping they would step up and at least assist with all these expenses. Nope , nothing but " we wish you well and hope you recover quickly. " That is still a hard pill to swallow. It doesn't end there...

....then it gets worse if that's even possible.

Oh but it is....

I was in my 4th week of recovery when my Boss called telling me of changes at work and that my position was being eliminated , and that due to my health scare they didn't feel comfortable continuing my employment. Keep in mind they don't offer insurance there , so all my bills are to be paid out of pocket and my wife and I are far from from rich by any means. Tennessee is NOT a right to work state so an employer can terminate you and your employment anytime for ALMOST anything.

The medical bills are finally rolling in to the combined total of over $35,000 and my wife is currently the only one bringing in income. I am reaching out to every entity and letting them know I am currently seeking employment just difficult with the Drs appointments.( I still have some issues from Jan 18th ).

I don't want things to get into collections and we can't afford to commit to multiple payment plans I fear of defaulting and ending up in court.

My surgeon has requested to do a follow up procedure ( to check the 3 surgery locations ) that is an additional $1500 due at the time services are rendered. We cannot afford this.

Normally I ask noone for help really, of any kind. I am usually the one doing the helping so this is very awkward for me. I intend on updating with photos of the bills , and the numerous offices sending them. Being in the ICU and having emergency surgery is expensive.

If you have any ideas or suggestions please let me know , I am open to anything. We are exploring local places that assist and we are also waiting on financial assistance from the hospital.

Anything you can help with monetarily will be appreciated and solely used for my medical bills. To some , $35K+ might not seem like alot , to us it is devastating.

This is a tough time and not the easiest thing to setup or do. I'm not ashamed , just embarrassed looking to others and strangers for assistance. Thank you , even if you only read this and nothing more. It is appreciated.

I am including some pictures of the bills that we have received thus far so anyone helping can see them. As they are taken care of I will also post pictures as updates. While I don't like revealing all this personal stuff , I just want to be as honest and transparent as possible.

Thank you for your time.

(Some bills are 2 Pics to get it all in for viewing )