Hello,

I don’t really know how to start this off. I’ve written a few things and then delete them so I’m just going to let it all out. It is kind of long, but please read through.

On July 24th I went to university hospital in Cleveland to have a bowel resection and at this time, I had insurance. I was there for exactly one week but was having complications, fever, nausea, pain. Not normal symptoms after surgery and they still sent me home. After about 5 days I had a fever of 102 and they decided to put me back in the hospital. This stay lasted 10 days after they found a few pockets of fluid in my abdomen around the surgical site. They placed a drain in my groin that stayed for about 3 weeks. Unknown to me because to be honest, checking my mail was the last thing I was worried about, I didn’t renew my insurance in time and this stay was completely not covered. Fast forward 3 weeks, September 5th I go to bed with a slight fever and wake up on the 6th to a fever of 101.5. After the horrible experience I had just had in the hospital, I did NOT want to go back so I hoped the fever would subside and I was supposed to be going back to work after 7 weeks off. My mother and my sister were begging me to go to the hospital again because by Saturday evening my fever was almost 103. I was stubborn and decided I would go on Monday morning. I just wanted a few more nights in my own bed. Mind you, I’m on IV nutrition and have to give myself fluids 2-3 times a day and take care of my household, alone. It’s exhausting and most days feels impossible or like I should be in assisted living. Well, by Monday morning it was too late. Every time I attempted to stand, I would pass out. My mom called the ambulance and after all day in the ER we found out I had an infection in my blood. At this point I’m still unaware I do not have insurance because again, the last thing I thought about was checking my mail. I pay all of my bills online and I tend to be an out of sight, out of mind type of person. I ended up being in the hospital for another 9 days trying to get rid of the infection. I have another surgery in a month to reverse an ileostomy bag back to my colostomy bag. I currently have both and am still doing the IV nutrition and fluids. After that surgery I will be going to Cleveland Clinic to have an entire intestinal transplant. I don’t think I’ll be working much longer…my body just isn’t holding up and it’s incredibly defeating. Embarrassing and makes me feel like a failure.

2 days ago I got a notification from MyChart and almost puked. I owe 118,000 for my last stay and I’m panicking about the next bill I will get from Cleveland Clinic Mercy.

Im currently in the process of getting my insurance back but I’m not sure if they will pay for either of my last 2 hospital stays.

Thank you to anyone who can help. I’m sorry to even be asking but I am desperate at this point.