Help for Holly's Hip

I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN) in January 2013. This terrible diagnosis is due to the fact that I was on an extended treatment of high-dose steroids after my brain tumor and staph infection that followed.

I started having terrible hip pain in July of 2012. I thought it was because I started to be more active and figured it was a pulled muscle or pinched nerve. I had an MRI arthrogram and was told I had AVN. I found a great orthopedic surgeon and he recommended that I have a surgery called core decompression of the femoral head.

So the surgery was not entirely successful. (In hindsight, it was a complete failure). I was still in a lot of pain most of the time, but I was told I could wait until I was 40 to have a total hip replacement. Fast forward two years and the pain in my hip is downright excruciating. I got another MRI arthrogram and the results were not good, my hip had rapidly deteriorated and was near collapse. A total hip replacement, the three surgeons have told me, is now the only answer. I am scheduled for surgery on March 17, 2015 at LDS Hospital in SLC, UT. I will spend a couple days in the hospital if all goes well, a few if my lungs don't cooperate.

I have a great job at a local pharmacy. I work 4 10- 11-hour shifts a week. It's not easy to be on my feet all day but this job is amazing. It's fun and challenging and exactly what I love to do. I have only been working there for seven months so I do not qualify for FMLA or paid time off.

I need approximately 10 weeks off to recuperate and get strong. I have insurance but that will only cover part of the actual surgery, because once I stop working, I only have a couple of weeks of coverage before I'm dropped from the plan. Then I'm out of luck. I hope the Affordable Healthcare Act will help fill in the gaps until I can return to work, but the co-pays, followups, prescriptions, medical equipment (walker, crutches, etc.) and sudden lack of income are what have really been keeping me up at night.

As some of you might know, my past medical complications makes this surgery not only scary and dangerous, but also more expensive than for most. Since I have Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), I've had to see my pulmonologist to get cleared for surgery, and will have to pay for her services while in the hospital. I'm also likely to stay in the hospital for much longer than others, who could possibly go home the very next day.

Every doctor bill is going add up to quite a lot of money. I also have had many doctor visits, labs and MRI's to prepare for the surgery in the last few months that I need help with. We will be living off of Bryon's income for that time.

I have had experience with huge hospital bills with my brain tumor and staph infection and as a result had to file for medical bankruptcy several years ago. I was young and single and didn't have health insurance. I didn't have many options because I needed emergency surgery to remove the tumor. I don't want to have to go down that road again.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you can't donate please share my story and send positive thoughts to the universe for me!