Medical Fundraiser: Support for Axton & James

For the past 10 months, James has been grappling with severe, untreated health issues. It was only after seeking care at numerous medical facilities that he finally received the attention and treatment he desperately needed.

Earlier this year, during the third flare-up of James’s debilitating abdominal pain, we visited urgent care, which referred us to the Evergreen ER. There, they performed blood tests and a CT scan, which was when it was discovered that there were gallstones present. This information was never relayed to James. The only follow-up was a referral to an intestinal specialist—an appointment set for 6 weeks out. Still weeks away from that appointment, James experienced another severe episode of pain, and we decided to seek help at Swedish ER in Redmond.

At the Swedish ER, they performed more thorough tests: blood work, a urinalysis, a CT scan, and an ultrasound. We learned that an ultrasound is the standard next step when someone presents with common symptoms of gallstones—something that wasn’t done at the Evergreen ER.

Swedish providers were heavily concerned over the lack of lack at the Evergreen ER due to James's condition and after the ultrasound, James was rushed to Swedish Issaquah for emergency surgery. His gallbladder was blocked, severely infected, and so inflamed that his liver had started to absorb it. While they were able to remove most of his gallbladder, part had to be left in due to liver involvement. His gallbladder was filled with so much pus that they had to place a drain to be left for a few days to safely evacuate any remaining fluid. Due to the severity of his condition, they couldn't even perform standard tests for this procedure during surgery, and more labs will be needed in the coming days. James has had a multi-night stay at the hospital and remains under close observation.

This situation has profoundly impacted our lives for the past 10 months. Despite seeking medical attention earlier, it took months to receive the proper care and diagnosis. The delay not only worsened James’ health but also caused ongoing stress, pain, financial strain, and uncertainty. Now that James is finally getting the care he needs, we’re grateful, but the journey to this point has been exhausting both emotionally and financially.

Even with active insurance coverage and having met our deductible, the financial burden has been overwhelming, especially after enduring multiple flare-ups of abdominal pain. After our first ER visit in September at Evergreen, we were surprised by the $900 bill despite insurance coverage. That alone has made us terrified of the costs for James’ multi-night stay at a surgical hospital, as well as the original Swedish emergency room visit. We’re currently looking into financial assistance options through Swedish, but the costs are still expected to be significant.

On top of medical bills, there are ongoing costs for transportation between hospitals, taking care of our kids at home during this process, and anticipated aftercare expenses for James' recovery. Both of us have had to take time off work, adding further strain. Additionally, we’ve been facing significant financial hardships due to a steep and inhumane rent increase, leaving us strapped. We are extremely scared about what our living conditions will be like in the coming year, as we may need to move from the home we’ve built over the last decade.

This entire ordeal has been incredibly stressful for James, myself, and our family. The delay in receiving proper care, compounded by growing medical expenses and uncertainty surrounding our housing, has felt like a debilitating shift in our lives. It’s shaken the structures we’ve relied on and pushed our emotional and mental well-being to the limit.

Axton Burton

(They/Them)