Surgery and monthly bills during recovery

Hello everyone, for those who don’t know me, my name is Jack Appell. I live in Charlotte and work as a bartender/cook at a small local spot in South End. For the past couple of years, I’ve been dealing with repetitive foot fractures, and as most in service industry know, insurance isn’t always available to us. At this time, the only realistic option is surgery to correct the damage.

Approximately six years ago, I broke my foot for the first time. Because I worked in the service industry without any health insurance at the time, I chose to leave the break to heal on its own on the advice of the ER doctor. This was definitely not the best choice, as, over the past two years, I have broken the same foot three more times. Because the toe I originally broke did not heal correctly, the bone behind that toe is subject to unbalanced weight distribution. I have had multiple stress fractures of the metatarsal behind that toe these past couple of years.

These stress fractures have continued to compound over time, to the point where I now have no choice but to wear a surgical boot until I have my foot surgically corrected. They need to break two of the toes and sever and reattach one of the muscles in my left foot to fix it. While I’m eager and willing to have the surgery and move towards a pain-free life, my biggest concern is my immediate bills and the cost of surgery. Even with insurance, I am responsible for part of the cost.

I’m facing approximately four to six weeks out of work. NC disability requires a minimum of eight weeks out of work before they will offer assistance. I expect that disability will turn me down. I also won’t likely qualify for food stamps (SNAP benefits) due to the short recovery time.

While I’m very excited to get back to work as soon as possible, the short recovery period leaves me in a delicate situation.

It is with great humbleness that I reach out to you all and ask for help. I understand that not everyone is in a position to donate, but every share helps me get closer to getting out of this boot and living a pain free life. If I can reach my goal, I will be able to pay my bills for the six weeks I am anticipated to be out of work and still afford groceries for myself and Arlo.

Thanks y’all. Much love.

The arrows on the X-ray show the damage to the bones that needs to be repaired, as well as the muscle on the middle toe.