Help with finances due to health & surgeries

My name is Michelle Sorrentino and I live in Toronto, Canada.  Iam suffering with severe Diverticulosis of the entire colon with re occurrent diverticulitis infections every 5 to 3 months with countless hospitalizations, C-Difficile, Colitis, IBS, and suffer with bowel obstructions/blockages.  Suffered a perforated colon.  Pancreatic Tumor and multiply Hernias with part of my Transverse colon in one of  the hernias. Depression and Coronary Artery Disease with high BP.  Have had multiply surgeries. Including a resection of my colon. Need further surgeries.  Colon resection Colostomy bag, Pancreas, Hernias and Gallstones.

First Surgery is set for November 1.  To remove Gallbladder,   multiply Hernias, with one intertwined in the bowel..And to remove more colon. The Transverse  Colon. 

“It” started about 4 years ago....I will try to keep it short.

I’ve suffered most of my adult life with Endometriosis (an often very painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining your pelvis). This caused me to have AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE. I’ve had over 8 surgeries including a hysterectomy.  After all that, I believed I’d live a pain-free, happy life!  This turned out to be nothing but.

Shortly thereafter, I was diagnosed with DIVERTICULOSIS OF MY ENTIRE COLON,  and get DIVERTICULITSIS INFECTIONS (an infection/inflammation of pouches that form in your intestines/colon), which resulted in me being hospitalized often.  Always very painful and made me very sick.  A CT scan showed lymph nodes around my ovary area which they decided to operate on.  My ovary was attached to the diseased part of my colon.  During that surgery, they noticed how badly diseased my colon was and scheduled another surgery a month later to remove part of my colon (SIGMOD RESECTION).  The situation was so bad that they had to cut my stomach wide open for removal.  I was hospitalized for 3 weeks.  It was a very difficult situation and an emotional time.

I was self-employed for the past 9 years and struggling to keep my business operating.  I had to unfortunately finally give it up.

As time went on, my infections started to get more and more frequent and so were the hospital visits and stays.  It took about a month to recover from the infections after weeks of strong antibiotics that took a toll on my body each time.  As soon as I started feeling better and having some good days, another infection would hit me.
In addition, I was also hospitalized with a BOWEL OBSTRUCTION/BLOCKAGE that needed emergency surgery. I was in the hospital for almost a month.  Thereafter, depression started to sink in and I couldn't find the energy to work anymore.  Some days were good but most days I found myself bedridden and just too mentally and emotionally exhausted.  It was impossible to even plan my daily activities. As my friends got to know, I canceled many get-togethers often due to my health issues and state of mind.

From then on, I’ve been in the hospital every 5 months with SEVERE colon infections the past 1.5 years, now since Oct. every 3 months.  Just this past February 2021, I suffered a severe infection with a PERFORATED COLON developed another colon infection due to all the antibiotics I have taken to fight each infection.  C-DIFFICILE and now COLITIS.  It is very painful and depilating getting all infections together each time now the past year. 

Iam awaiting to undergo 2 serious surgeries. One will be removal of my Gallbladder and Hernias.  It will be tricky with one, as it has part of my colon intertwined in one of them. The next will be removal of more colon.  I was given a 50% chance of hernias returning along with high risk of infections.  The recovery will be months to a year. They need to cut out more of  my Colon, possibly all of it.  Again another serious surgery to safely cut out more colon and try to re attach to the rectum.  Depending on how much good part is left to save.  I  will need to have a COLOSTOMY BAG attached to my colon to give it time to heal.  Not sure if this will be 6 months , 2 years or forever.  They will not know til them open me up in surgery again.   If it is a temporary colostomy bag then I will need to do a reversal surgery again.

I’m on high blood pressure medication, two other heart medications, and blood thinners.  I have Coronary Artery Disease with a 50% artery blockage and severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome . ALL THIS DUE TO STRESS!  I take 10 medications a day for my colon issues, stomach, depression, and heart.  It costs an average of $500 per month without any income or company insurance.   I also have to take a lot of vitamins and buy things I research from functional medical doctors. to heal my gut, colon, and stomach.  All of which cost so much that I can barely afford.  I try to eat as clean and healthy as I can which is another high cost for me.

Waiting for these surgeries and living with daily pain and sickness has been very trying and depressing.  Iam not the happy go go go person I once used to be.  There are many days I don't leave my bed and even wish to live anymore. This has made daily living very difficult.  My life has also been put on hold because of the pandemic, surgeons are behind on so many procedures. And there are not enough OR rooms.   Our OHIP coverage in Ontario and health care isn't great as people think.

I’ve had 16 CT scans alone this past year, which is a lot of bad radiation.  I’ve now been told that my colon needs to be cut out more which will result in me having to wear a colostomy bag, possibly for the rest of my life.  They said my chances of it being temporary are very low.  With having so many infections over time and a perforation, my colon has become very weak.

There are also new findings in my PANCREAS that show a CYST/TUMOR.   Will have repeat MRI in 5 months. Its on the tail end of my pancreas, which is the worst part to get it and as such, they need to keep an eye on the growth.  Something to add to my already deteriorating health and depression.

I have kept most of this to myself within a small group of friends and family who know my situation.  All these health issues have caused me to fall into a deep depression.  Many times, I feel like just giving up and not wanting to live.

It has been difficult to care for myself at times let alone impossible to work and support myself.  With the help of a couple of friends, I have managed to stay afloat in the meantime. But I can no longer rely on their generosity much longer as they have given me all they can. But will continue to support me emotionally etc.

I am not used to asking for any help from anyone. It hurts my pride and causes me much embarrassment to find myself in the financial situation I am in due to my illnesses. I have no other way to find help but to ask for it.  It has been impossible to work and at times fend for myself.  I have rent, the cost of living, food, medical expenses, etc.   I cant afford to do it the natural path way or get further testing, treatments etc on my own as its all a added cost.   The stress of how Iam going to live this upcoming year with the added surgery or more is killing me.