Hello!! My name is Guillermo Contreras. I’m 26 years old and I live in Fort Myers, Florida. To my friends, family, and community—many of you know me, and you also know that asking for help like this is not easy for me. It’s uncomfortable to put myself in this position, but right now this is the only way I can move forward with the medical care I need. On Tuesday, June 17, after getting home from work, I injured my left knee while jumping down from my truck. After multiple doctor visits, X-rays, and an MRI, the results showed serious damage that requires surgery on my left knee Cap. I have been doing physical therapy to prepare and stay in the best condition possible for the surgery and recovery. My surgery was originally scheduled for August 21, but due to financial reasons, I had to reschedule it for September 25. Unfortunately, both the hospital and the orthopedic surgeon require full payment upfront, and they do not allow payment plans. Here is a breakdown of the costs: • Hospital/facility: $6,639.75 • Orthopedic surgeon: $1,868.04 • Anesthesiologist: approx. $700 (insurance covers 50%) That brings my total out-of-pocket cost to around $9,207.79. This does not include the income I will lose from being unable to work for at least two months. As a supervisor in commercial painting, my job requires me to be on the move, driving between projects daily—something I won’t be able to do while recovering with my leg in a full extension brace. I will be posting updates and receipts so that everyone can see that all funds are going directly toward my surgery and recovery. If you are able to help in any way—whether through a donation or by sharing this with others—I would be deeply grateful. I thank God for the family, friends, and community He has blessed me with, especially my dance community, who have been so supportive through this journey. This experience has taught me patience, humility, and the importance of listening to my body when it needs rest. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you are able to give. With gratitude, Guillermo Contreras