I'm Alan Rhoads and am trying to pay my medical bills created from a shoulder replacement that went bad. The original replacement done 5 years ago had an issue of coming out of joint, so another joint was installed. Five years later, it was an issue with infection with the part installed. The company Exactech that made the joint had issues and the part was infected. As the doctor went in, the infection was bad and had deteriorated the bones. This caused a 5-day stay in the hospital and a temporary shoulder was installed and a PICC line. Three times a day, an antibiotic was dripped in. A weekly nurse visit. Insurance only covered part of this cost. So from September to January with the temporary in. In January, the permanent shoulder was done. The doctor had to rebuild using bones and glue. A 4-hour procedure. After this repair, my shoulder keeps coming out of joint. One more surgery coming up. Round 5. So I have been limited to doing my normal routines and having the pain. There is a class action suit against Exactech that I am on. Can't find any lawyers to even go over this suit with me. Have received billing from the hospital for the part of the bills that my insurance has not paid. I'm 74 and retired. I have Medicare and a supplement. Now I am getting notices from a collection group plus still more from the hospital. No one will explain what to do. I need help. This is not my fault that the hospital put in an infected part. Why should I be punished for a bad part I had no control over?

I have spent my life trying to help others. Involved in community things as sponsoring Pop Warner. Have spent a lot of time making kids smile as Santa Claus. Helped with Habitat building houses. Am involved in local groups and have even set out to pick up trash along the roads a number of times. I am very limited now and hope the next surgery will help get me back to doing what I used to do. Can't ride my motorcycles as I have the last 60 years. Thanks if you can help.