Ronald's Battle Against Heart Failure and Medical Debt

My name is Ronald Llewellyn Jones. I am an artist, activist, and community organizer based in Houston, Texas, currently residing in rural Bay City, Texas. After many years of avoiding health concerns—often negotiating with myself over the costs of hospital visits, specialist appointments, insurance, and prescriptions—I finally made my way to the emergency room at Matagorda General.

Three weeks ago, I fainted and fell on a piece of furniture, causing it to break. I had been on my way to get a bottle of water and use the restroom when I suddenly found myself on the floor, being awoken by my mother. Disoriented, I struggled to pick myself up but couldn’t. With my mother’s help, I made it to the restroom, where I sat for some time, trying to collect myself. My body began to sweat profusely as I was handed multiple bottles of water. Despite being offered a trip to the emergency room, I declined.

Fainting spells and chest pains have been a part of my life since my junior year of high school. On multiple occasions, I was taken to the emergency room, only to be told there was no detectable cause or abnormality. Typically, doctors would refer me to a specialist or cardiologist—advice I didn’t follow due to the associated costs and my lack of insurance. The uncertainty of the results, and whether they would provide any new information, led me to avoid further medical attention for many years, even though the symptoms persisted.

It wasn’t until my most recent visit to the emergency room that I was admitted as an inpatient. This time, tests that hadn’t been performed when I was younger were finally done. My blood and urine were tested, ultrasounds were performed on my heart and neck, my blood pressure was regularly checked, and a stress test was conducted on my heart. During these exams, it was determined that I am at risk of heart failure. As a result, I had an implanted loop recorder—a device that records any abnormalities in my heart's rhythm and relays that information to my cardiologist—placed under the skin of my chest. I was also prescribed medications to help strengthen my heart.

As many of us know, especially in the United States, healthcare, medical procedures, and prescriptions are not cheap, particularly for those without insurance. As an uninsured American, I am in need of assistance with the costs of my hospital visits and the prescription medicines I’ve been prescribed. The total cost of my hospital visit is $21,257.97, with monthly medication costs ranging from $11 to $700.

I never imagined the total cost would be so high, nearly matching my existing college debt. Nonetheless, I am hopeful that I might be able to receive some assistance to help alleviate this healthcare debt. I would be deeply grateful for any contribution, as it will bring me closer to resolving this financial burden.

Thank you for your time and consideration as I work to strengthen my heart and address this long-standing health concern.