Hi everyone. We're trying to get rent covered this month. Since we did this last time, both Rachel and Ron have gotten jobs, and we have managed our financial resources so that we aren't constantly at the edge of disaster. Ron is just starting his contract next week, and Rachel works part time doing childcare, with infants and special needs children. This is physically demanding work, however. Our big kids contribute to household funds as well. I wouldn't say we are thriving, but we are doing okay for the immediate future. Rent in Silicon Valley is ridiculous and we pay $4500 for a small 4 bed 2 bath house with a property manager who won't fix anything, ever.

We desperately need some help for October. Rachel has been battling crippling endometriosis for a over decade now; she is getting a hysterectomy in two weeks to treat this. Imaging indicates that it is highly likely that endometriosis has infiltrated her bladder and we suspect infiltration into her ureters as well. Unfortunately, endometriosis images poorly, so the surgery is also including an exploratory scoping of her bladder, ureters, and intestines. This means the significant possibility that there will need to be surgical correction far beyond a simple hysterectomy. What is often an out-patient surgery, Rachel will be doing this in-patient and will be admitted to the hospital for a minimum of three days. Past experiences tell us that Rachel needs a longer recovery time than expected.

While we are hopeful that this will have a lasting positive impact on her health, this will put us in a tight spot while Rachel recovers. Rachel won't be able to work, and we will incur a bunch of extra expenses as well. We are all planning on being spread pretty thin for the next six to eight weeks.

Thank you for your help and support.