Support Andy Coello's Life-Saving Surgery
Donation protected
- $10.405 has now been raised (As of April 17) due to $4,500 in additional funds given directly! >Read the additional updates below....
This GoFundMe site was created to assist with medical related expenses for Andres Coello. Andres is a translator and Spanish teacher in Boquete Panamá. He's also friend of mine and a childhood friend of my wife Wendy and many others from Christiansen Academy in Venezuela. Andres also attended Whitworth University in Spokane WA and EWU in Cheney WA and has maintained connections to many friends there who are contributing and following his condition closely.
Andres had a heart attack in October of 2024 and is in immediate need of a Cardiac catheterization and to have a stint(s) inserted.
He will not know how many stints will be required until they do the catheterization and determine the extent of damage to his heart. Andres is on the national healthcare plan in Panamá. His Cardiologist determined he needed this procedure in October 2024 but because he's on the government healthcare system he's required to wait for priority to have the operation / procedure. He's been on the waiting list since November of 2024. Andres is in need of financial support to pay for the procedure and related expenses. When he gets to the top of the waiting list, he will need to cover the cost of the procedure. At the government hospital that is estimated to be approximately $1000. In addition to cost of the surgery he also needs assistance during recovery for one month for a) rent $250, b) cell phone $15, c) medications $200, d) meals $200 and e) a 2 week stay at a Airbnb in Panamá City (~$560).
ALTERNATIVELY - and preferred - the procedure can be done immediately at a private hospital at a cost of approx $15,000 (depending on the number of stints required). Currently he cannot afford the procedure at either venue (public or private). Our prayer / goal is to raise enough to allow Andres to have the procedure done in the private hospital. If we cannot raise enough for the private hospital the funds will be used for the public hospital when a slot becomes available. A full accounting / spreadsheet of all of the expenses will be available for anyone who donates to Andres's procedure.
If you have trouble with the "GoFundMe" process we can accept donations via PayPal, Zelle, CashApp, Venmo or Yappy as well - reach out to me or Wendy for those details.
- MORE UPDATES BELOW....
- 4/17/2025 UPDATE: Add $4,500 given directly to the top number… as of 7am we are at $10,405!!
- 4/16/2025 PRAYER UPDATE: Please make sure that you scroll down below to get all of the updates. A few items to note. None of the other less expensive surgery options remain viable for Andy at this time but we are VERY VERY close to being able to get him to the private clinic. A few updates on this option - his cardiologist has lowered his cost SUBSTANTIALLY to allow the operation. One of the accommodations his surgeon agreed is to only charge for one stint - regardless of if he needs 1, 2 or 3. He is also allowing payments for his fee so that we can proceed without getting all of the funds up front. We still have the clinic's expenses as well as the anesthesiologist and medical materials - but the big items have been substantially reduced. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!
- 3/28/2025 PRAYER UPDATE: Thank You all for your ongoing generosity. Unfortunately the local option did not work out, too many on the waiting list ahead of Andres. He is looking at a few other options in some neighboring countries with high levels of care and lower cost. As before we’ll update here as details are available.
- 3/26/2025 PRAYER UPDATE: Andres thinks that he may be able to get the procedure done locally (i.e. in David and not Panama City) at a much lower cost at a private clinic - meaning right away!
Any excess funds in the account will go to medical needs of other indigent Panamanians determined by the leadership of my church.
Organizer
Lawrence Dusanic
Organizer
Jensen Beach, FL