
Support Vander's Fight Against Medical Debt
Howdy! I'm Vander, Van for short.
I don't have medical insurance due to not being able to afford it. I work two jobs, one with a call center and another as a freelance artist. I also do gig work when I can find it. Its a rough living but I work hard to make my way and I'm proud of what I am capable of like this. That being said when you are barely over poverty level, when emergencies happen, they hit hard.
I spent almost two weeks trying to be "business as usual" with intense chest pain. I went to work, picked up some extra work on the weekend and made due despite knowing something was wrong.
After the first week I went to the cheapest urgent care I could find. They told me I was overworking myself and likely just pulled a muscle. They prescribed some muscle relaxers and sent me on my way with a bill I was sweating to pay.
A few days passed and the pain got worse and even moved. Concerned, I went to yet another urgent care, a different one this time. They were concerned as the chest pain had started flaring from the right side of my chest. All they would do for me without insurance is run an EKG and tell me "well your heart is ok" before sending me away with yet another bill. This bill even more than the last one.
Finally I said I had enough and went to a reputable center with a lab in house. I knew it would be expensive but I was so in pain I couldn't even think straight. After a few tests and the most painful CT scan I've had in my entire life. I was told I had blood clots in my lungs and was immediately carted to the ER. Of course I was sent off with another exhorbent bill.
I don't wish to go into detail about my hospital stay. Honestly I don't even remember all of it. I was there and multiple days. I was constantly undergoing tests and poking and prodding. I was made violently sick by medications not interacting well with each other. I couldn't even lay down fully without sobbing in pain from not being able to breathe.
That is to say I don't blame the hospital staff. They did their best to accommodate me and those nurses were some of the kindest people I've interacted with in years. These people saved my life. It just was a painful process to do so.
Now I think you can guess what happened at the end of my stay.
I was left with a bill that I know I couldn't pay this time.
In addition I will need to follow up with the hospital doctor every 2-4 weeks (depending on recovery) and speak to a couple other specialists over the next couple months. This is where I'd like to remind, I don't have insurance. I also have two new expensive prescriptions that literally mean life or death for me.
Sufficed to say I have a long and expensive medical journey this year until I'm able to get insurance next January.
I am currently working with financial aid programs to bring down costs and set me on payment plans but these very large bills from this past week and my upcoming appointments during recovery are going to be brutal. Especially because I can't work as much as I used to. While I am set to get insurance again in Jan 2025, I am working with a some knowledgeable people to try and get some type of medical insurance in the meantime as well.
I am pleading for your kindness and support. Even sharing means so much for me through this rough recovery period. I am so thankful for the kind words and love I've received from the community this past week. Complete strangers have been so kind to me and I can't even begin to explain how much that means to me.
I'm a just a hard-working 27 year old guy without insurance just trying his best.
How Donations will be used:
-The initial visits and medical bills from urgent care and hospital bills.
-Ongoing medical visits for recovery (at least 3 months of recovery expected).
-Expensive prescriptions for life saving medication.
-Groceries and essentials for the time spent out of work.
-Any additional support to make the recovery process easier for these next few months.
-Finding medical insurance I qualify for and can afford.
Thank you again!
UPDATE JUNE 27 2024
Had to up the goal amount sadly. Today I was told there were an addition $25,000 in charges from the hospital. Every little bit helps but now I'm REALLY stressed on how I'm going to make this work.
I really appreciate everyone who has shared and donated. You all make my day!

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