Phil Porto needs some help after another surgery.

Hey everybody - my name is Miles Witt Boyer. I'm a wedding and portrait photographer and podcaster who has not only the sincere pleasure of calling Phil Porto an influence and close friend of mine, but also the responsibility of making sure that good people like Phil that go through hard times like this have the opportunity to get a little extra support from the community around him. If you'd like to hear a podcast interview I did with Phil where he really shares his heart for people, more about his story, and what he's up against right now check this link out : Photographic Collective Podcast feat Phil Porto

 

A little about Phil's Surgery and current situation:

 

 

On December 14th Phil went in for surgery to remove a tumor from his left eye to determine if there was cancer or not. Though asking for months without reply, less than 24 hours before the surgery he was called and informed that his self pay price for the surgery is $210,000 and that the surgery could not happen without being paid ahead of time. Phils wife Christa was able to get them to agree to taking $8,000 upfront and start a payment plan. The Portos are part of an amazing Christian health share, where once a need is approved, and paid medical records are submitted, they are able to start having their need met by others in the health share. After approval, it takes about 4 months to start receiving funds toward the paid bill. On top of the cost, Phil would have to take two months off of work for recovery. After a successful surgery, Phil was ecstatic to be sent home early from the hospital. Unfortunately within a few days, sickness took over and he ended up in the ER and has been in the hospital since the 23rd. currently on antibiotics for a ten day period to determine what is causing the infection and the end solution. Estimated out of pocket costs are 12-15k a day. Trusting God will cover things financially while also not trying to deny those who have asked to stand side by side and help in this time. A friend Tom Wright sent this today  [Phil]“Your reminding me of Philippians 4:12,13. Time for the rest of us to share with you in this tribulation and try and help support you. (Philippians 4:14)“. Hard to accept this kind of help but also foolish to deny blessing of those who care. Once all bills are received, paid and approved by the Health Share, after a few months those funds would be recouped and anyone who wants to receive that back can make it known at time of donation so that it can be documented and make sure the person is taken care of.

 

A little about Phil Porto :

 

 

 

Phil Porto is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Florida. In 2018 he was named one of the top 30 rising photographers in the world and now runs a wedding and portrait company spread across three states along side his amazing wife Christa and their two kids. Phil's passion for people, relationship, and story has been heavily influenced by a life filled with challenges both medically and personally. Growing up in New York City with a single mom who sacrificed a lot so that Phil could have opportunities in his life he was raised with a passion for loving on people and the camera became one of many mediums he's been able to use to access that. Because of past tumors and surgeries Phil is blind in one eye and deaf in the opposite ear yet he continues to create art at a world class level while also being a brand ambassador for a few of the best names in the photography industry. All of this, while being an amazingly involved and passionate dad to two little boys Jonah and Miles, a rockstar husband to his wife Christa, and a passionate leader for his team. The news that he was going to have this surgery rocked his world a bit forcing him to lean into his faith and believe that God would provide for his family while he is unable to work at all.

 

What we're asking for :

We're asking honestly first and foremost that people rally around Phil. It's been a terrifying, stressful, and painful few months missing Christmas with his kids, in and out of ICU's during Covid, and dealing with the ever present reality that the surgeries and treatments are not only life saving - they're life risking as well. Secondly, we're asking for real, genuine giving. The kind of giving that creates change in people's lives and causes us to not simply feel good about ourselves, but affect the future for somebody else. Whether that's $10, $100, or $1000 we're asking that you make an attempt to support this man and his sweet family simply because in a world filled with shallow, selfish people - Phil is a light that shines through that. Your money will go directly to Phil's medical bills and expenses that have piled up over the last month and undoubtedly will only go up over the next several. With well over $250,000 of bills to be paid either through the Christian Health Share Plan mentioned above, or out of Phil + Christa's pocket we're hoping that this offers a little relief and a lot of hope so that Phil can focus on healing, recovering, catching up on missed time with his family, and getting back to work as soon as the doctors allow it.