Help needed to get thru upcoming kidney surgery
Donation protected
Hi. My name is Josh, from Tennessee and I am 31 years old. I am asking for help with bills while I am sidelined by cancer surgery.
It started with routine blood tests revealing elevated liver enzymes. My doctor ordered an ultrasound to see if there was a problem. Coincidently, they discovered a 3.3cm mass on my right kidney. Originally thought to be a common benign tumor that would only need monitoring, she ordered a CT scan to be sure. On Friday, April 26th at 8:45AM, my doctor called with the results. There is an 80% chance that it is kidney cancer. My world crumbled around me. They immediately scheduled me to see an urologist the following Monday. He confirmed the suspicion and explained that he would remove it without having to take my whole kidney. It is a higher risk procedure, but it leaves me with 2 kidneys if something should happen to my left down the road. He also said there is a 95% cure rate after the surgery, so I am very blessed in that regard.
My surgery is scheduled for June 19th. I will be in the hospital for at least 3 days, and out of work for 4 to 6 weeks, if all goes well. I have short term disability that pays 60% of my salary, but that will not get us thru. My full paycheck barely pays the bills as of now. My wife of 6 years is a stay at home mom looking for employment as a medical coder, right out of school. She waitresses on the weekends to help ends meet. We have 3 children. 10, 7, and 5. We have lived very modestly over the past few years while my wife was in school. I am usually not one to ask for help and I own what life brings me, but I really do not know what else to do. I don't know what the medical bills will be afterward, but at this point, I'm just trying to stay focused on getting by and getting better. Anything towards it would be so helpful. Just a little reassurance that my family will be secure while I recover.
This experience over the last month has completely changed my outlook on life. How unexpected things can change your life in an instant, and how precious life really is. I can promise you that any help you can provide will not be taken for granted and I can guarantee it will be paid forward in the future. If all you can afford is a prayer, I would greatly appreciate that too. Thank you for reading this far and thank you for any help you can give.
It started with routine blood tests revealing elevated liver enzymes. My doctor ordered an ultrasound to see if there was a problem. Coincidently, they discovered a 3.3cm mass on my right kidney. Originally thought to be a common benign tumor that would only need monitoring, she ordered a CT scan to be sure. On Friday, April 26th at 8:45AM, my doctor called with the results. There is an 80% chance that it is kidney cancer. My world crumbled around me. They immediately scheduled me to see an urologist the following Monday. He confirmed the suspicion and explained that he would remove it without having to take my whole kidney. It is a higher risk procedure, but it leaves me with 2 kidneys if something should happen to my left down the road. He also said there is a 95% cure rate after the surgery, so I am very blessed in that regard.
My surgery is scheduled for June 19th. I will be in the hospital for at least 3 days, and out of work for 4 to 6 weeks, if all goes well. I have short term disability that pays 60% of my salary, but that will not get us thru. My full paycheck barely pays the bills as of now. My wife of 6 years is a stay at home mom looking for employment as a medical coder, right out of school. She waitresses on the weekends to help ends meet. We have 3 children. 10, 7, and 5. We have lived very modestly over the past few years while my wife was in school. I am usually not one to ask for help and I own what life brings me, but I really do not know what else to do. I don't know what the medical bills will be afterward, but at this point, I'm just trying to stay focused on getting by and getting better. Anything towards it would be so helpful. Just a little reassurance that my family will be secure while I recover.
This experience over the last month has completely changed my outlook on life. How unexpected things can change your life in an instant, and how precious life really is. I can promise you that any help you can provide will not be taken for granted and I can guarantee it will be paid forward in the future. If all you can afford is a prayer, I would greatly appreciate that too. Thank you for reading this far and thank you for any help you can give.
Organizer
Josh Goodman
Organizer
Manchester, TN
