Ken's medical bills & recovery
My name is Ken Bernstein. Online I am probably better known at teacherken, the name under which I most usually blog and tweet.
I am 70 years old, currently without employment, and because of some ongoing medical issues will not be able to seek or accept employment at least until after Thanksgiving, and possibly not until the first of the next year.
I have been most reluctant to seek assistance from others, but we are concerned about our financial situation.
Sometime by the end of the month I will undergo a procedure to address an abdominal aortic aneurysm. While most of the costs of treatment are covered by insurance, there are always out of pocket costs. The tests so far, a recent colonoscopy, and the forthcoming out of pocket costs are adding up. At the same time my beloved wife, who has a blood cancer, recently had to undergo an additional round of chemotherapy, which also contributed to our financial pressures. In addition, she has insufficent leave to be able to assist me in my treatment without being out from work without pay.
After treatment for my aneurysm, I will not be allowed to drive for at least 3 weeks. Since I was informed about this in early October, I had to cease seeking employment until after I am cleared to drive again. I will also during that three weeks be unable to tutor, which is my only current source of income.
Any funds received will be used to pay off those credit card debts already incurred as part of the treatment of both of us, any additional expenses incurred directly as a result of the treatment we face, to cover the loss of income from when my wife has to take leave without pay to care for me (which will be around 1 week), and to ensure that we do not go further into debt with ongoing bills before I am able to return to work.
I was very reluctant to reach out like this. I believe in being responsible for my own financial obligations. The unusual nature of our situation, and having had an increasing number of people who know of our situation lobby me on this, I have now agreed to take this path.
I thank you in advance for any assistance you decide to offer. Whatever we assistance we get will help relieve the serious financial stress.
Peace.
I am 70 years old, currently without employment, and because of some ongoing medical issues will not be able to seek or accept employment at least until after Thanksgiving, and possibly not until the first of the next year.
I have been most reluctant to seek assistance from others, but we are concerned about our financial situation.
Sometime by the end of the month I will undergo a procedure to address an abdominal aortic aneurysm. While most of the costs of treatment are covered by insurance, there are always out of pocket costs. The tests so far, a recent colonoscopy, and the forthcoming out of pocket costs are adding up. At the same time my beloved wife, who has a blood cancer, recently had to undergo an additional round of chemotherapy, which also contributed to our financial pressures. In addition, she has insufficent leave to be able to assist me in my treatment without being out from work without pay.
After treatment for my aneurysm, I will not be allowed to drive for at least 3 weeks. Since I was informed about this in early October, I had to cease seeking employment until after I am cleared to drive again. I will also during that three weeks be unable to tutor, which is my only current source of income.
Any funds received will be used to pay off those credit card debts already incurred as part of the treatment of both of us, any additional expenses incurred directly as a result of the treatment we face, to cover the loss of income from when my wife has to take leave without pay to care for me (which will be around 1 week), and to ensure that we do not go further into debt with ongoing bills before I am able to return to work.
I was very reluctant to reach out like this. I believe in being responsible for my own financial obligations. The unusual nature of our situation, and having had an increasing number of people who know of our situation lobby me on this, I have now agreed to take this path.
I thank you in advance for any assistance you decide to offer. Whatever we assistance we get will help relieve the serious financial stress.
Peace.
Organizer
Kenneth Bernstein (Organizer)
Organizer
Arlington, VA