Unexpected Medical Bills
Donation protected
On November 5th I will be having surgery to remove an endometrioma on my left ovary. But based on the many ultrasounds and tests I have had done the surgeon is 95% sure he is going to have to completely remove my left ovary. The endometrioma (which is a cyst filled with endometrial tissue) is about 4cm which isn't large but it also appears I have endometriosis and somehow my left ovary is almost completely behind my uterus instead of to the side of it. It also appears that the ovary has attached itself to my uterus. This is because of endometriosis. Something that I have always thought I had but never truly been diagnosed with it. The surgery will also be to perform ablation on any endometriosis that is found. I found out about this truly sad news about 4 weeks ago. I have had pain on my left side for years on and off. I have even had a regular hemorrhagic cyst rupture as well. But the pain in recent months has increased and spread and is not going away. If they do take my ovary this will greatly decrease our chance of having a baby. Which is heart breaking. Only my very close family know we have been trying for 4 1/2 years almost 5 to get pregnant.
This is just the most recent medical expense we have. Thankfully Derrick has insurance through his job which will cover most of this procedure but not all.
Instead of going into great detail about everything we have been through over the past year and half I am going to try to do a quick time line. I am sure I will leave things out but it will be to just give you some idea of what we have endured recently.
2014
Feb- moved to Asheville spent all savings and all money we had to move.
July-I had a ruptured hemorrhagic cyst, 2 days later Derrick was in the hospital because his cellulitis was back again, He had become septic and was on 4 different IV antibiotics around the clock. He was in the hospital for 10 days. After the hospital Derrick couldn't go back to work for almost another 2 weeks. He didn't have enough vacation time for the time he was out because he was still a new employee. I was only working part time and I had no benefits so the time I missed spending with Derrick at the hospital and once he was home I wasn't paid for. This was our first big monetary issue. We applied for help where we could and we pawned what we could because we didn't have the money to pay for rent and our bills. Derrick had 2 ER visits at this time because they missed the cellulitis the first visit and he had an ambulance ride the second time because he was in such bad shape he was having a hard time breathing.
November & December- I am having GI issues.
2015
Feb- I have a endoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy. I had a few issues. One was H.Plyori.
March- I had a lower GI Bleed that lasted through April. Hemoglobin was so low they wanted to do a transfusion. 2 ER visits and I don't know how many doctor visits. My hair started falling out around this time too. At the time I thought it was low iron from the super low hemoglobin.
April-Bronchitis x3 so many doctor visits.
May-June MONO. I was out for about 6 weeks. I quit my job. I was an independent contractor with no benefits. I had missed so much work I was going to be fired. I quit so I could go back later if possible. At least 1 ER visit because I couldn't walk I was weak.
July- Official diagnosis of Fibromyalgia after constant pain for 3 months and feeling extreme fatigue for 3 months even after I was over Mono.
July- Car accident. Derrick totaled our Malibu. No money left after insurance for down payment for a new car.
August- Hair loss increases. Doctor ran some tests not sure why it's falling out. Could be because of my fibromyalgia.
Sep-Oct- Many doctor visits for the Fibro, trying out new medications for the fibro, and a lot of GYN visits for pain and cysts. Basically every week or 2x a week doctor visits or blood tests. Still not sure about my hair loss but trying ANOTHER new medication for the FIBRO and hopefully will help with my hair loss. I have been using Rogaine for 2 months with no improvement. If something doesn't change I will need a wig in a few months. I can hide the loss now and make my hair appear to be thick, but not for much longer.
Oct- Mammogram because of pain and discharge. They found small clusters of cysts they "believe" are benign but I have to go back in 6 months to be retested to be sure.
November 5th- The surgery I mentioned above.
Which brings me to why we made this GoFundMe. We need your help. We got behind when Derrick was sick a year ago and we have not been able to get ahead, only further behind. We have used local resources who help out with $100 here or there to put towards a bill. But because we don't have children we don't qualify for much assistance and most of the agencies can only help 1 time year or just run out of money so quickly they can't help.
Derrick and I know both know everyone is having a hard time. Everyone has a story or has some issue. This is ours and we are asking for help. All of this is such private information about what has been going on with me and Derrick and it is very humbling sharing it all and putting it out there. I have started a channel on youtube about my fibromyalgia journey because it was hard for me to find support for all the issues and everything I am/was experiencing. Hopefully it will help others.
Derrick has been working 52 + hours a week so we can pay our rent and our bills. God gets the glory here because through this all he has provided for us. Money would come from places we didn't think possible when a bill would be due! I haven't been able to work because I have been suffering through Mono and Fibromyalgia. I think I have finally found a medicine that helps with the Fibromyalgia so I can actually attempt to function normally. After I recover from surgery which will be 2 to 6 weeks. I can look for a job again. But it might be after Christmas or right at Christmas before I can even work again and we need this money to help now.
For Derrick to be home and help me after my surgery he has to take vacation time which thankfully he has but he won't be getting any overtime which will put us short for our rent 11/14. That is our most urgent need. The rest of the money will be so Derrick can can continue to take time as needed to help me recover from surgery, and for all my many medical bills that have been piling up along, past due bills and the huge bill that we will get from surgery.
Even if you can't give any money right now please pray. Pray that the doctor doesn't need to take my ovary and just for my overall health during surgery. Pray that God’s will be done in our lives. Please comment if you need prayer as well. It would be my pleasure and a blessing to me to pray for you.
I want to say thank you for anyone who donates and know that we will forever be in your debt. I promise to help you whenever or however I can. Wether it be a meal, a ride, a place to stay, prayer, or money. Whenever possible I promise to repay your kindness however I am able to.
This is just the most recent medical expense we have. Thankfully Derrick has insurance through his job which will cover most of this procedure but not all.
Instead of going into great detail about everything we have been through over the past year and half I am going to try to do a quick time line. I am sure I will leave things out but it will be to just give you some idea of what we have endured recently.
2014
Feb- moved to Asheville spent all savings and all money we had to move.
July-I had a ruptured hemorrhagic cyst, 2 days later Derrick was in the hospital because his cellulitis was back again, He had become septic and was on 4 different IV antibiotics around the clock. He was in the hospital for 10 days. After the hospital Derrick couldn't go back to work for almost another 2 weeks. He didn't have enough vacation time for the time he was out because he was still a new employee. I was only working part time and I had no benefits so the time I missed spending with Derrick at the hospital and once he was home I wasn't paid for. This was our first big monetary issue. We applied for help where we could and we pawned what we could because we didn't have the money to pay for rent and our bills. Derrick had 2 ER visits at this time because they missed the cellulitis the first visit and he had an ambulance ride the second time because he was in such bad shape he was having a hard time breathing.
November & December- I am having GI issues.
2015
Feb- I have a endoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy. I had a few issues. One was H.Plyori.
March- I had a lower GI Bleed that lasted through April. Hemoglobin was so low they wanted to do a transfusion. 2 ER visits and I don't know how many doctor visits. My hair started falling out around this time too. At the time I thought it was low iron from the super low hemoglobin.
April-Bronchitis x3 so many doctor visits.
May-June MONO. I was out for about 6 weeks. I quit my job. I was an independent contractor with no benefits. I had missed so much work I was going to be fired. I quit so I could go back later if possible. At least 1 ER visit because I couldn't walk I was weak.
July- Official diagnosis of Fibromyalgia after constant pain for 3 months and feeling extreme fatigue for 3 months even after I was over Mono.
July- Car accident. Derrick totaled our Malibu. No money left after insurance for down payment for a new car.
August- Hair loss increases. Doctor ran some tests not sure why it's falling out. Could be because of my fibromyalgia.
Sep-Oct- Many doctor visits for the Fibro, trying out new medications for the fibro, and a lot of GYN visits for pain and cysts. Basically every week or 2x a week doctor visits or blood tests. Still not sure about my hair loss but trying ANOTHER new medication for the FIBRO and hopefully will help with my hair loss. I have been using Rogaine for 2 months with no improvement. If something doesn't change I will need a wig in a few months. I can hide the loss now and make my hair appear to be thick, but not for much longer.
Oct- Mammogram because of pain and discharge. They found small clusters of cysts they "believe" are benign but I have to go back in 6 months to be retested to be sure.
November 5th- The surgery I mentioned above.
Which brings me to why we made this GoFundMe. We need your help. We got behind when Derrick was sick a year ago and we have not been able to get ahead, only further behind. We have used local resources who help out with $100 here or there to put towards a bill. But because we don't have children we don't qualify for much assistance and most of the agencies can only help 1 time year or just run out of money so quickly they can't help.
Derrick and I know both know everyone is having a hard time. Everyone has a story or has some issue. This is ours and we are asking for help. All of this is such private information about what has been going on with me and Derrick and it is very humbling sharing it all and putting it out there. I have started a channel on youtube about my fibromyalgia journey because it was hard for me to find support for all the issues and everything I am/was experiencing. Hopefully it will help others.
Derrick has been working 52 + hours a week so we can pay our rent and our bills. God gets the glory here because through this all he has provided for us. Money would come from places we didn't think possible when a bill would be due! I haven't been able to work because I have been suffering through Mono and Fibromyalgia. I think I have finally found a medicine that helps with the Fibromyalgia so I can actually attempt to function normally. After I recover from surgery which will be 2 to 6 weeks. I can look for a job again. But it might be after Christmas or right at Christmas before I can even work again and we need this money to help now.
For Derrick to be home and help me after my surgery he has to take vacation time which thankfully he has but he won't be getting any overtime which will put us short for our rent 11/14. That is our most urgent need. The rest of the money will be so Derrick can can continue to take time as needed to help me recover from surgery, and for all my many medical bills that have been piling up along, past due bills and the huge bill that we will get from surgery.
Even if you can't give any money right now please pray. Pray that the doctor doesn't need to take my ovary and just for my overall health during surgery. Pray that God’s will be done in our lives. Please comment if you need prayer as well. It would be my pleasure and a blessing to me to pray for you.
I want to say thank you for anyone who donates and know that we will forever be in your debt. I promise to help you whenever or however I can. Wether it be a meal, a ride, a place to stay, prayer, or money. Whenever possible I promise to repay your kindness however I am able to.
Organizer
Patricia Bratcher
Organizer
Asheville, NC