PR Evacuee Medical Expense Relief
Donation protected
Hello everyone!My name is Pablo Rivera, and I have been going through a tough year. I'm from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and for the past 10 months I've gone through a total of 7 spinal procedures (including a L3-S1 Spinal Fusion, spinal drains, and spinal patches to seal the drains), mostly due to a spine condition (spina bifida occulta) I did not know I had until early this year. Add to that the passing of Hurricane Maria through the island on September 19, 2017. Before the hurricane hit the island, I was recovering from my fifth procedure, and was already under financial duress because my insurance company did not want to cover most of the treatment recommended by my neurosurgeon.
The day before the hurricane hit, my neurosurgeon, Dr. Rene Cardona, had to drain a total of 10 ounces from a pseudomeningocele (cyst caused by cerebro-spinal fluid [CSF]). This excess fluid was causing pressure in my spinal cord, and my brain, giving me seizures.
I was scheduled to have surgery the week the hurricane hit. After the hurricane had passed, the damage done to the island's power and communication grid was extensive and the hospitals in Puerto Rico were either without electricity, or had suffered extensive damages.
My only option was to be transferred to Houston Methodist Hospital as a medical evacuee from Puerto Rico. There I was treated by Dr. Todd Trask (Excellent Neurosurgeon by the way!)
Even though I had to be taken out of the island due to an emergency and in a unusual circumstance, my insurance company won't cover medical treatment outside the island, so these expenses have to be paid out of pocket. (I'm posting a photo of one of the Invoices sent by the hospital that totals around $234K).
My neurosurgeon says that I have extensive nerve damage, and I have not been able to work since February this year. My parents have tried to help me by paying my mortgage and some of my medical bills; but I don't want to bring them financially underwater with me.I am currently stuck between a wall and a hard place, and I don't want to declare bankruptcy due to medical debt!
Any funding would greatly help me pay my bills, and relief some of the financial stress that me and my family are going through.
Also pray for my recovery, my family, and the recovery of the island of Puerto Rico and its people. We may be going though a rough patch, but we will rise up again.
Thank you very much. I'm thankful for all the support!
The day before the hurricane hit, my neurosurgeon, Dr. Rene Cardona, had to drain a total of 10 ounces from a pseudomeningocele (cyst caused by cerebro-spinal fluid [CSF]). This excess fluid was causing pressure in my spinal cord, and my brain, giving me seizures.
I was scheduled to have surgery the week the hurricane hit. After the hurricane had passed, the damage done to the island's power and communication grid was extensive and the hospitals in Puerto Rico were either without electricity, or had suffered extensive damages.
My only option was to be transferred to Houston Methodist Hospital as a medical evacuee from Puerto Rico. There I was treated by Dr. Todd Trask (Excellent Neurosurgeon by the way!)
Even though I had to be taken out of the island due to an emergency and in a unusual circumstance, my insurance company won't cover medical treatment outside the island, so these expenses have to be paid out of pocket. (I'm posting a photo of one of the Invoices sent by the hospital that totals around $234K).
My neurosurgeon says that I have extensive nerve damage, and I have not been able to work since February this year. My parents have tried to help me by paying my mortgage and some of my medical bills; but I don't want to bring them financially underwater with me.I am currently stuck between a wall and a hard place, and I don't want to declare bankruptcy due to medical debt!
Any funding would greatly help me pay my bills, and relief some of the financial stress that me and my family are going through.
Also pray for my recovery, my family, and the recovery of the island of Puerto Rico and its people. We may be going though a rough patch, but we will rise up again.
Thank you very much. I'm thankful for all the support!
Organizer
Pablo R. Rivera
Organizer
Río Piedras, PR
