Hello Everyone.

I am currently facing a severe medical crisis. Several weeks ago, on March 19, I experienced several episodes at work, lightheadedness, dizziness, and nearly fainted three times within an hour. I left work to go to the ER to be seen as I just felt like something more was wrong even though I had been experiencing these same episodes for nearly a year, however, never three times within such a short time period. By the time I reached the registration desk at the ER, the nurse thought I was having a stroke, my physical state had declined that much within the 30 minutes it took me to get there. I was taken to the back, evaluated and tested.

Within five minutes my blood had been drawn, an EKG had been done, and it was determined that I was not having a stroke, and my heart seemed to be fine. However, minutes later, the nurse came back in to draw more blood for the lab as they thought a mistake had been made on my CBC test. Things became very scary right after that, as I was then being told I needed to be admitted, and that I was in critical condition. I was told to call someone to come out there with me while they tried to determine what was wrong.

The doctor came in then to tell me what my red blood cell count was below life threatening levels. My red blood cell count had reached 4,400k glbs per unit. A normal adult should have around 10,000 glbs to 12,000 glbs unit. Their immediate thought was that I was losing blood somewhere and more tests were done to look for internal bleeding. Shortly after, I was taken to a room and set up for blood transfusions. I would require 4 bags of blood in order to reach stable levels. It's now been determined that I no longer can absorb Iron and my red blood cell count had dropped gradually over the year as my nutrition health waned.

I will now need iron infusions multiple times a year in order to survive. These infusions alone will cost me several thousand dollars each, and that is just the up-front cost for medication alone. That does not include all of the other out of pocket costs, and tests that are still being done and the related charges I am still receiving just from the last month. While I was inpatient, I also experienced a severe allergic reaction which is still being treated and is an ongoing issue, so I expect more bills from that as well. Long story short, my medical expense account which I had accumulated over the last few years, is now depleted.

My first infusion is next Friday, and the medication cost must be paid up front. This will be the first of at least 3 that I will need this year. I am asking for help with these costs to keep me alive from anyone that is able to do so while the doctors try to resolve this issue by whatever other means are available, but it is very likely that I will need these infusions long-term. I am looking into assistance programs that I may qualify for, but the current need is critical and immediate. My kids and I greatly appreciate any and all help at this time as I face this crisis over the next few months.