Disc Fusion Back Surgery for Disabled Amputee

I’m raising money for an Emergency disc fusion surgery I desperately need as I cannot feel my right leg and have excruciating pain. I’ve been a single parent, putting a child through college, and have another medical emergency that I can’t afford the recovery and surgery for. Several years ago, I had a surgery disaster that caused me to become a below knee amputee. I had over exercised and my arch collapsed in my foot. When I had surgery, they used a bone graft that was contaminated with a super resistant bacteria. I went through 10 surgeries in hopes of saving my foot and kill the bacteria to no avail. To my surprise, the FDA only requires bone and tissue to  tested for hepatitis and HIV and nothing more. I couldn’t sue anybody because the bone graft regulations are backed by the Federal government. There was no malpractice as the surgeon did nothing wrong. I went to multiple attorneys and was told there was nothing I could do. I spent $500,000 trying to save my own foot and that is before it became amputated. My Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance policy wouldn’t cover it because I had “an infection”.  I ended up cashing in my inheritance and savings to pay for losing my leg AND I have private insurance.  It was a finger pointing game on who was going to pay for the medical expenses that racked up.   I ended up being stuck with the entire bill.

Since then,  I spend my entire out-of-pocket maximum of $13,500 every year for the last six years on my salary alone for the cost of prosthetics, physical therapy, and pain management as a result of being an amputee.  Back problems ensued and I ended up filing for disability which was the last thing I ever wanted. I am the breadwinner of my little family and now lost my insurance. If you ever look at how much disability pays, you’ll be shocked that people can actually live on it. I have refinanced my home to help cover costs. But now I can’t afford a major back surgery.  I never anticipated I would have another surgery. Medicare does not kick in for two years when you first become disabled. What is wrong with our country? Do I suffer for the two years before I can have insurance that still would require me to pay an amount I could never afford? I’m scheduled to have the surgery in a few weeks. I’m stuck in bed, lost my savings, question whether I need to be on this planet anymore when I can’t physically do anything. I am a burden to my friends and daughter and have no family. The hospital called and informed me my surgery is $80,000. I also know I need to pay for physical therapy afterwards, pain management, and any other necessary things that will come up like home health care. I’ve already asked all my friends these past several months to help out and I asked for every favor I can think of and I have run out. Life isn’t fair.

 

As an American our Medical System stinks. I need the surgery. You cannot get insurance once you’re approved for disability until two years after you were approved. What is wrong with this country? And then having these ridiculous deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum is that the average American cannot afford. How are we supposed to afford to live? I worked my whole life and I tried to do the right thing. I paid my taxes, I paid into Medicare, I saved money, I’ve put one kid through college and now doing the same for the next one. I had a good life. Now I’m thinking suicide would probably be the answer because I don’t want to be a burden to my children financially. How sick is that? Please help.