Heather Benton

Hello everyone! I thought I would give an update on my Dads situation. So he currently is at a post-acute facility after being at UMC hospital for 16days. He has been there for about a week and after speaking to his doctor it looks like he will be there for an additional week. He’s not happy about the time frame but he has benefited from the facility. He’s is up walking with the help of a walker and working with physical therapy multiple times a week. They are watching his weight because he has dropped a good bit of weight since he has been at the hospital and then there (it’s understandable at the hospital). Well, we got his first hospital bill in the mail yesterday and we are being billed $385,000 just for the hospital after insurance covered their portion. An additional $5500 in X-rays, CT’s, and Ultrasounds. I have been in contact with the billing department to see if there is any programs or services that could help with the bill. I’ll keep everyone updated as things progress. Thank you everyone for all your love and support throughout this difficult time.

My dad, Chuck, has been battling constant falling for the past couple of months. He has been working with his doctors to find the reason behind the falling, among other ailments. He doesn’t even need to be in motion to fall. On Aug. 5, my dad fell in the street while getting the daily mail, and it resulted in him being taken by ambulance to UMC Hospital here in Las Vegas. He was placed on a ventilator for numerous days. Since he has been taken off the ventilator, he has been battling multiple issues, including but not limited to burns across his chest and stomach, confusion, difficulty speaking, being unable to walk on his own, issues eating a regular diet, and losing track of time even with a window next to him, etc. The hospital’s case manager has set him up with a room at a skilled nursing facility close to our home. Hopefully, his health will improve once he’s under their care. My mother and I both have our own medical conditions that we battle every day as well. I’m currently working on getting disability, while my mother is disabled. With that being said, my mother and I have been going to see my father every day since he arrived at the hospital. We are working closely with his doctors and nurses to have all the proper medical equipment at home for him. Most of these items we are paying for out of pocket. While my father does have health insurance, it doesn’t cover everything. We are pinching pennies to make it right now, knowing the medical bills will start rolling in any day now. The last thing I want my father to worry about is bills while he’s trying to just make it to the next day. He has always worked to take care of my sister and me, and Lord knows I wish I had the ability to take care of him in this time of need. If anyone is able to help him out financially or just in prayer, I would be forever grateful. If you’re unable to donate, that’s okay; just please say a prayer or send positive energy his way. This is going to be a long road, and it’s just the beginning.