Stacey’s emergent surgery cost
Donation protected
**NEW UPDATE**
From Austin: Mom is getting better but still needs help financially and she has a year of rehab she can't start until theb$5000 is paid. We just need $3000 more. Please. If you can't donate even $5 then please share on your wall, snap, Instagram, anything. I need my mom to laugh and smile and be pain free again. Please please help.
**UPDATE** They have allowed her the opportunity to get the surgery; however, she is in desperate need of assistance to help pay for the growing medical bills. ALL DONATIONS HELP TREMENDOUSLY!
——————
This fund is for my husband’s aunt who is in immediate need of surgery to continue on with her life. One free of the incessant turmoil she has dealt with now for far too long. She has to secure a minimum of $5,000 by October 17, 2018 to be able to schedule the surgery required to fix an invasive procedure done over two decades ago.
She’s been fighting to simply keep food down the past 6 months and in that time was even forced into a liquid based diet; however at this point liquids are hardly an option. She’s losing an average of 2 pounds a day and without the emergent gastric bypass surgery needed chances of life in itself for her are unknown.
Please help us raise the funds needed!
I have attached her handwritten story below:
In December of 1998 I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty surgery done. This surgery back then was very invasive and not very common for weight loss. It involved dividing my stomach off at the esophagus. I was 350lbs then. I lost 150 the first year and was able to get pregnant with my son, which I was told I could not.
Over the years I've had several complications but nothing that couldn't be resolved. Until now. 3 years ago i ended up in the hospital vomiting blood and unable to keep anything down. They told me that i had developed ulcers around the bottom of my esophagus and would eventually close up the hole that was created with the VBG surgery. The surgery is not reversible and the materials used are not removable.
6 months ago I started vomiting again and I went to the dr who I've seen for more than 30 years so was very knowledgeable of me, my medical history and he immediately referred me to a gastroenterologist. They did an Endoscopy and found that the hole is completely closed. Because of the excessive vomiting, at least 5 times a day, more ulcers have developed in my esophagus. He referred me to another gastroenterologist who he felt had better equipment and could possibly dilate the hole where the band is located. Another Endoscopy was scheduled that same week. This dr was also unable to get the scope through the hole because it was closed. He was also unable to dilate the hole because of the material of the band. He immediately referred me to a bariatric surgeon. During this time I am still vomiting everything. Unable to keep anything down. Once or twice a week in the ER, dr office or hospital stays, because of severe dehydration, kidney function at 25%, malnourished. Aspirating in my sleep, which caused food particles to end up in my lungs. I was sent to have a bronchoscopy which they were able to wash some of the particles. My muscles cramping up in my legs, arms, feet and hands.
I see the surgeon who tells me the only way to fix it is a full blown gastric bypass. He is explaining in detail what has happened and that it is life threatening. Surgery was scheduled but of course we have to wait on insurance approval. I was not worried much about it. It was life threatening and I have already maxed out all of my portion of copays and coinsurance. Insurance came back with an approval within a couple of days. But come to find out my employer had written into the policy that any bariatric procedure would be separate from my regular policy and none of the money I've paid would go towards any copays or deductibles. I was devastated to learn I had a $5000 deductible that has to be paid by the 17th of this month and unknown medical bills that will precede the surgery. I feel like my only option at this point is to cancel surgery and try to live as long as I can like this.
Just since June i have lost 45 lbs from not being able to eat. I'm averaging a weight loss now of about a pound every 2 days. I'm sick all day every day. Most days i can barely walk from my muscles cramping up, being extremely week. I require assistance with almost everything I do.
Being a single mom and barely making it month to month anyway, this has put a very big financial burden on me. The medical Bill's are staggering and I'm getting further and further behind on everything.
The excessive time off work because I'm sick, hospital stays, dr visits, the numerous tests, medications,etc. Is causing a strain on work, home and relationships.
This surgeon is the best and the surgery is in excess of $40,000, but the price is nothing compared to being able to save my life. I'm only 49 years old. I'm not ready to die.
From Austin: Mom is getting better but still needs help financially and she has a year of rehab she can't start until theb$5000 is paid. We just need $3000 more. Please. If you can't donate even $5 then please share on your wall, snap, Instagram, anything. I need my mom to laugh and smile and be pain free again. Please please help.
**UPDATE** They have allowed her the opportunity to get the surgery; however, she is in desperate need of assistance to help pay for the growing medical bills. ALL DONATIONS HELP TREMENDOUSLY!
——————
This fund is for my husband’s aunt who is in immediate need of surgery to continue on with her life. One free of the incessant turmoil she has dealt with now for far too long. She has to secure a minimum of $5,000 by October 17, 2018 to be able to schedule the surgery required to fix an invasive procedure done over two decades ago.
She’s been fighting to simply keep food down the past 6 months and in that time was even forced into a liquid based diet; however at this point liquids are hardly an option. She’s losing an average of 2 pounds a day and without the emergent gastric bypass surgery needed chances of life in itself for her are unknown.
Please help us raise the funds needed!
I have attached her handwritten story below:
In December of 1998 I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty surgery done. This surgery back then was very invasive and not very common for weight loss. It involved dividing my stomach off at the esophagus. I was 350lbs then. I lost 150 the first year and was able to get pregnant with my son, which I was told I could not.
Over the years I've had several complications but nothing that couldn't be resolved. Until now. 3 years ago i ended up in the hospital vomiting blood and unable to keep anything down. They told me that i had developed ulcers around the bottom of my esophagus and would eventually close up the hole that was created with the VBG surgery. The surgery is not reversible and the materials used are not removable.
6 months ago I started vomiting again and I went to the dr who I've seen for more than 30 years so was very knowledgeable of me, my medical history and he immediately referred me to a gastroenterologist. They did an Endoscopy and found that the hole is completely closed. Because of the excessive vomiting, at least 5 times a day, more ulcers have developed in my esophagus. He referred me to another gastroenterologist who he felt had better equipment and could possibly dilate the hole where the band is located. Another Endoscopy was scheduled that same week. This dr was also unable to get the scope through the hole because it was closed. He was also unable to dilate the hole because of the material of the band. He immediately referred me to a bariatric surgeon. During this time I am still vomiting everything. Unable to keep anything down. Once or twice a week in the ER, dr office or hospital stays, because of severe dehydration, kidney function at 25%, malnourished. Aspirating in my sleep, which caused food particles to end up in my lungs. I was sent to have a bronchoscopy which they were able to wash some of the particles. My muscles cramping up in my legs, arms, feet and hands.
I see the surgeon who tells me the only way to fix it is a full blown gastric bypass. He is explaining in detail what has happened and that it is life threatening. Surgery was scheduled but of course we have to wait on insurance approval. I was not worried much about it. It was life threatening and I have already maxed out all of my portion of copays and coinsurance. Insurance came back with an approval within a couple of days. But come to find out my employer had written into the policy that any bariatric procedure would be separate from my regular policy and none of the money I've paid would go towards any copays or deductibles. I was devastated to learn I had a $5000 deductible that has to be paid by the 17th of this month and unknown medical bills that will precede the surgery. I feel like my only option at this point is to cancel surgery and try to live as long as I can like this.
Just since June i have lost 45 lbs from not being able to eat. I'm averaging a weight loss now of about a pound every 2 days. I'm sick all day every day. Most days i can barely walk from my muscles cramping up, being extremely week. I require assistance with almost everything I do.
Being a single mom and barely making it month to month anyway, this has put a very big financial burden on me. The medical Bill's are staggering and I'm getting further and further behind on everything.
The excessive time off work because I'm sick, hospital stays, dr visits, the numerous tests, medications,etc. Is causing a strain on work, home and relationships.
This surgeon is the best and the surgery is in excess of $40,000, but the price is nothing compared to being able to save my life. I'm only 49 years old. I'm not ready to die.
Organizer
Tabitha Lolley
Organizer
Huntsville, TX
