This is very hard for me to do, but I have had several people encourage me to do it. I am needing help in meeting an estimated $20,000 medical bill in December.

(Backstory)

In March 2025, I started having heavy bleeding less than 2 weeks after my last period ended. Being in perimenopause for the last several years, I knew that heavy and irregular bleeding are two of the common symptoms, so I didn't worry too much about it. Just, "here we go again...maybe THIS time will be the last time??"

But this time the bleeding didn't end, and kept getting so much worse, along with sharp, stabbing pains in my lower abdomen. In May, an ultrasound found a fibroid half the size of my uterus, so my doctor advised having a small procedure with the goal of removing the fibroid and stopping future bleeding. The procedure wasn't inexpensive, but it was less than a hysterectomy, and certainly less invasive and permanent, so we thought it was a good step to try.

The surgeon was unable to remove the fibroid, though, because it was embedded into the muscle wall . Despite that, because of the other parts of the procedure, the bleeding *should have* stopped within a couple weeks, but instead it continued to get worse. There have been days I have been unable leave the house due to the exhaustion and other symptoms. We also tried several different medications, none of which helped.

At my next appointment after it was still escalating, I was diagnosed with adenomyosis, which is like endometriosis, except it's in the muscle wall. I was prescribed another super strong progesterone to try, which I've been continuing to take even though it makes me feel awful. Unfortunately, the bleeding has never stopped, not one day off since March, and it continues to be unmanageable.

At this point, the only option I have left is to have a hysterectomy.

I have applied for the hospital's financial assistance based on recent income history, and was approved for an 80% reduction. That brought my total estimate for the upcoming procedure scheduled for Dec 9 to between $17,000 and $19,000 (the range estimate is depending on how big they find my uterus to be). I also still owe approximately $3000 for the previous procedure. That brings the total cost to be estimated at around $20,000.

We have been uninsured since 2006 but have been thankfully able to pay for the things we needed along the way, in cash payments, until now. We tried to get ACA when it first came out, but we fall in that hard spot where we make too much to get any credits, but not enough to afford the multi-thousand dollar deductible after which we would only have had a small coupon discount for services.

I have been looking for employment that includes benefits, but have been turned down for every application. I tried to re-apply for ACA and was denied the application for a special enrollment. I have looked into private insurance and various health sharing organizations, and they all exclude pre-existing conditions.

So, now I'm humbly asking for help, using this forum.

I appreciate anything you can do. Please share with others who know me or if you know of organizations who might have funds to contribute as well.

If you would prefer to donate via Venmo or PayPal instead, my Venmo is @Debby-JG or my paypal is @DebbyJG

Thank you so much.