Don's medical fund
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Don and I'd like to share a little about myself. I'm 45 years old and married to my childhood Sweetheart, we have a 21 year old Son & two 13 year old Maltese puppies. For the past 16 years I've enjoyed working outdoors though my medical conditions have made my job challenging. This GoFunfMe page is being set up to address two concerns. Total hip surgery and uninsured seasonal unemployment.
November 17,2017, I was laid off from my seasonal employment with a rehire date of April 2nd, 2018. Normally, during the Winter season I would be eligible to collect Unemployment Insurance while I search for Winter work. However, not this year. I am not physically able to work during my recovery and so I am not eligible for unemployment insurance. This leaves me with no income during my recovery. I have filed a claim for short-term disability through my work insurance but I have not heard back on any help from that as of yet.
On Novemeber 21, 2017, I underwent a long overdue surgical procedure for Congenital Hip Dysplasia which, had it been diagnosed when I was a toddler, could have been corrected non-surgically. I had a total hip replacement on my left leg. The recovery time for this surgery is a couple of months and in my case has left me with a left leg an inch longer than my right. Requiring me to get corrective work done on my right shoes to compinsate.
I started experiencing chronic pain in my left hip around age 17. This progressed and at age 27 I would have days where I would wake up with tears in my eyes and have to literally "pull" myself out of bed because my legs wouldn't move. After 15 to 30 minutes I could move around like normal, my normal anyways.
My doctor at the time wanted to dismiss it as ciatic nerve pain. I insisted on an x-ray, which he told me I didn't need. After doing the x-ray, he said I needed to see an Orthopedic Specialist. I was diagnosed with Congenital Hip Dysplasia by the end of that week. Meaning my ball and socket hip joints never grew correctly.
Over the years, I have seen a few of these Specialists and they all told me the same thing, "you will have to replace both your hips at some point but you should wait as long as you can before doing it because the replacements only last 15 to 25 years and you're too young to do it now," that was in 2000. "If you can take the pain, you should wait." I'm paraphrasing here, but that's pretty much it. So I've waited until now, 2017.
My hip use to give out when I jogged, then it started to give out on occasion just walking. The pain was constant but usually tolerable. It would spike from time to time especially after strenuous activities. For the last 20 years or so I've walked with a limp.
Still having a physical job at the age 45, I finally decided to get the left hip fixed as it was the most deformed and caused the majority of the problems I was having. Not being able to walk dramatically effects my ability to earn a living.
I'm hoping my insurance will cover the bulk of the expense of this procedure, which I'm told can cost $30,000.00-$60,000.00 not counting all the doctors appointments( pre-op/post-op etc.) leading up to and following the surgery, the Physical/Occupational therapists & cobblers. I will still have a lot of copays, deductables and maybe 30% of the surgery bill to pay. The Max out-of-pocket cost clause in the inssurance might reduce this sum a bit. I'm estimating a bill around $8,000.
I know times are tough for everyone, though any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, for your generousity in taking the time to read this and your willingness to donate.
Sincerely, Don & Amy Schmidt
November 17,2017, I was laid off from my seasonal employment with a rehire date of April 2nd, 2018. Normally, during the Winter season I would be eligible to collect Unemployment Insurance while I search for Winter work. However, not this year. I am not physically able to work during my recovery and so I am not eligible for unemployment insurance. This leaves me with no income during my recovery. I have filed a claim for short-term disability through my work insurance but I have not heard back on any help from that as of yet.
On Novemeber 21, 2017, I underwent a long overdue surgical procedure for Congenital Hip Dysplasia which, had it been diagnosed when I was a toddler, could have been corrected non-surgically. I had a total hip replacement on my left leg. The recovery time for this surgery is a couple of months and in my case has left me with a left leg an inch longer than my right. Requiring me to get corrective work done on my right shoes to compinsate.
I started experiencing chronic pain in my left hip around age 17. This progressed and at age 27 I would have days where I would wake up with tears in my eyes and have to literally "pull" myself out of bed because my legs wouldn't move. After 15 to 30 minutes I could move around like normal, my normal anyways.
My doctor at the time wanted to dismiss it as ciatic nerve pain. I insisted on an x-ray, which he told me I didn't need. After doing the x-ray, he said I needed to see an Orthopedic Specialist. I was diagnosed with Congenital Hip Dysplasia by the end of that week. Meaning my ball and socket hip joints never grew correctly.
Over the years, I have seen a few of these Specialists and they all told me the same thing, "you will have to replace both your hips at some point but you should wait as long as you can before doing it because the replacements only last 15 to 25 years and you're too young to do it now," that was in 2000. "If you can take the pain, you should wait." I'm paraphrasing here, but that's pretty much it. So I've waited until now, 2017.
My hip use to give out when I jogged, then it started to give out on occasion just walking. The pain was constant but usually tolerable. It would spike from time to time especially after strenuous activities. For the last 20 years or so I've walked with a limp.
Still having a physical job at the age 45, I finally decided to get the left hip fixed as it was the most deformed and caused the majority of the problems I was having. Not being able to walk dramatically effects my ability to earn a living.
I'm hoping my insurance will cover the bulk of the expense of this procedure, which I'm told can cost $30,000.00-$60,000.00 not counting all the doctors appointments( pre-op/post-op etc.) leading up to and following the surgery, the Physical/Occupational therapists & cobblers. I will still have a lot of copays, deductables and maybe 30% of the surgery bill to pay. The Max out-of-pocket cost clause in the inssurance might reduce this sum a bit. I'm estimating a bill around $8,000.
I know times are tough for everyone, though any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, for your generousity in taking the time to read this and your willingness to donate.
Sincerely, Don & Amy Schmidt
Organizer
Don Schmidt
Organizer
South Portland, ME
