Out of Leave after Hospitalization and Surgery
Donation protected
Last November (2018), I went to the Emergency Room with abdomen pain. I was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Diverticulitis. Since that time, I have been admitted 3 more times to the hospital for Diverticulitis-related illnesses.
In March, I had a Colonoscopy which not only confirmed the Diverticulitis, but revealed a "lesion" I had, which while convinced it was not cancer, warranted a closer look by Endoscopy.
While prepping for the Endoscopy, the laxatives I was given caused a perforation in my bowel to open. I rushed to the ER, and was admitted to the ICU. Later, my doctor would tell me that it was basically a "coin flip" as to if I was going to make it. Everyone (with the exception of my general surgeon) was pushing for emergency surgery. My surgeon was convinced that I could make it and have the surgery later in order to avoid complications of emergency surgery (things like a bag, etc.)
I was able to recover enough to go home and try and get healthy enough for the surgery, which I did and took place 8/15/19. By all accounts, the surgery was a success, although the Colo-rectal surgeon said to me later that he didn't know how I had been walking around because (according to him), it was a "real mess down there".
So I am currently recovering from surgery, but the issue is that I've missed a lot of time from work over the past 10 months and have drained all my leave. Already this year, I've had to take close to 100 hours of unpaid leave. Add to that the fact that I work for the government, and you might remember the closure where I missed paychecks (although I eventually got paid, it was still enough to throw off the finances).
All in all, this year has been super tough on my family and I. My recovery is supposed to be 6 weeks, although my doctor thinks I can go back in 4. That's 2 paychecks that I will miss. This is why I'm asking for help; this GoFundMe target amount is essentially equal to those 2 missed paychecks (as a government employee my salary is public record, so I don't feel a need to be coy about this).
I've taken other steps to try and bridge the gap until I can get back to work, including asking for leave donations at work. I'm hopeful, but not well known in the building as even though I've worked there for 10+ years, most of my time has been spent on the overnight shift and not interacting with most of the day shift.
Any help and monies are going straight to simply paying the bills and keeping my family afloat until I can return to work (hopefully on 9/15).
In March, I had a Colonoscopy which not only confirmed the Diverticulitis, but revealed a "lesion" I had, which while convinced it was not cancer, warranted a closer look by Endoscopy.
While prepping for the Endoscopy, the laxatives I was given caused a perforation in my bowel to open. I rushed to the ER, and was admitted to the ICU. Later, my doctor would tell me that it was basically a "coin flip" as to if I was going to make it. Everyone (with the exception of my general surgeon) was pushing for emergency surgery. My surgeon was convinced that I could make it and have the surgery later in order to avoid complications of emergency surgery (things like a bag, etc.)
I was able to recover enough to go home and try and get healthy enough for the surgery, which I did and took place 8/15/19. By all accounts, the surgery was a success, although the Colo-rectal surgeon said to me later that he didn't know how I had been walking around because (according to him), it was a "real mess down there".
So I am currently recovering from surgery, but the issue is that I've missed a lot of time from work over the past 10 months and have drained all my leave. Already this year, I've had to take close to 100 hours of unpaid leave. Add to that the fact that I work for the government, and you might remember the closure where I missed paychecks (although I eventually got paid, it was still enough to throw off the finances).
All in all, this year has been super tough on my family and I. My recovery is supposed to be 6 weeks, although my doctor thinks I can go back in 4. That's 2 paychecks that I will miss. This is why I'm asking for help; this GoFundMe target amount is essentially equal to those 2 missed paychecks (as a government employee my salary is public record, so I don't feel a need to be coy about this).
I've taken other steps to try and bridge the gap until I can get back to work, including asking for leave donations at work. I'm hopeful, but not well known in the building as even though I've worked there for 10+ years, most of my time has been spent on the overnight shift and not interacting with most of the day shift.
Any help and monies are going straight to simply paying the bills and keeping my family afloat until I can return to work (hopefully on 9/15).
Organizer
Michael Soldano
Organizer
Springfield, VA