Sonya Wilcox, court reporter and cat lover
Donation protected
- Hi, I'm Sonya Wilcox. I've been a court reporter for 25 years. I'm a Registered Diplomate Reporter. I worked in Thurston County Superior Court as an official for 14 years. I resigned that position at the end of 2019, so that I could move back to my hometown, because both my mom and dad were battling cancer. I quit a job that had full health insurance, vacation leave, sick leave, et cetera, so that I could come home and help out my mom and dad.
- I was blessed to be able to find employment with a small firm that accommodated my schedule. They are wonderful to work for, but they do not offer paid leave, sick leave, vacation leave, or health insurance.
- I started the Case Catalyst Reporters and Users group in 2011. Over the past 11 years, I have spent countless hours helping other court reporters, scopists, and students. The group I started has helped countless court reporters, scopists, and students.
- I'm asking for some help back. It's very humbling to ask.
- On June 4th, while I was trying to help a feral kitten, I was bitten. By the afternoon of June 5th, my finger and hand had swelled enormously, and I went to the urgent care. They immediately put me on antibiotics and sent me to the orthopedic hand specialist the following day.
- On June 6th, I had emergency surgery on my right index finger due to infection from the cat bite. I live on the border of Washington and Idaho, and although I pay out of pocket $354 a month for my health insurance, the orthopedic hand specialist was located in Idaho instead of Washington, so my insurance would not cover the emergency surgery.
- The closest provider accepted by my insurance company would have been in Spokane, which is 100 miles away, and not only could I not drive with one hand, but this surgery was emergent. So, I didn't have time to provider shop.
- Emergency surgery was performed on June 6th, and I was billed approximately $5,200 for that out of pocket. Following surgery, I was put on two weeks of intravenous antibiotics three times a day. So, I had to go down to the hospital at 6:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. for 2 weeks. I was also being followed up with at the surgical center. I was seen two or three times a week for the following month.
- The wound on my finger was not healing properly. It became infected. Approximately one month after surgery, I was finally referred to wound care. My finger was horribly infected. I had to have a PICC line put in my arm and go twice a day to the hospital to have intravenous antibiotics for 2 weeks.
- At the same time, I was being seen at the wound care center in Lewiston where I was also having topical antibiotics applied to the wound.
- July 14th, when I went for my appointment at the Lewiston wound care center, I was informed that they do not take my insurance. I had specifically called and verified that they would take my insurance before I started treatment there. So, I was told they would no longer see me, and I was referred to Tri-State Hospital in Clarkston.
- I am now being seen at wound care in Clarkston. This basically means that for the entire month that I was being seen at the Lewiston wound care center
and believed that they accepted my insurance is now not going to be covered. That is going to be out-of-pocket expense to me.
- I had my first appointment with the Clarkston wound care center yesterday. The doctor made it very clear that I will not be able to work any time soon. In fact, he told me that it's possible my right index finger may have to be amputated.
So, here's the ask, and I'm really embarrassed and humbled to have to do it, but I'm a single mom, and I have absolutely no income right now. I have medical bills stacking up that I can't pay, and I have no income coming in to cover my monthly bills. I have no vacation time, no paid leave, no sick leave. I would appreciate any help that anyone would offer to me at this point. I know the ass seems astronomical. It seems astronomical to me, too. But the bills are piling up and so are my monthly expenses, and I'm going to be off work for another 2 months at least. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.
Update: I just got back from the doctor yesterday, and he told me that we're looking at another 8 to 10 weeks before I could possibly get back to work. The problem is that the open wound is over my knuckle, and a tendon is exposed. They're going to be putting stem cells into the open wound to try to generate new tissue. That needs to heal and then we have to wait for scar tissues to form. At least this is what the doctor is telling me. I so much appreciate all the help that has been given. It's been freaking amazing! Thank you all SOOOO much. It has made this crisis bearable. I was so scared. I feel a sense of relief and immense gratitude for all of the help that has been given to me.
Organizer
Sonya Johnson Wilcox
Organizer
Clarkston, WA