Fundraising for medical expenses?

[MissM]

So it's been a really hard week for me. Sunday May 29th I wound up in the ER after two days of unbearable pain in my abdomen. Lots of tests and an overnight stay later, it turns out my uterus is full of tumors. I have both multiple fibroids and multiple cysts in my uterus, each one the size of softballs or baseballs. The doctor says my uterus is the size of a woman who's 4 months pregnant and the total mass is about the size of a basketball.

We were on the fast-track to a hysterectomy when the pre-op tests found things were worse then he had believed from the hospital tests. A high risk hysterectomy is 250grams of masses. My doctor estimates I have over 1,200 grams. So tomorrow, I get to have a shot to induce a medical menopause for two months in an attempt to shrink the tumors. (They're fed by estrogen, so if you starve the body of estrogen, you starve the tumors.) By the way, I just turned 34 on May 16th. I'm beyond terrified.

I do have a job but it's part-time and they offer no benefits and no insurance. Even if Love and I went to the courthouse tomorrow and I got on his insurance, it's not covered because it's now a pre-existing condition. I've exhausted every possible medical assistance option in Florida. (Because let me tell you, there are very few and they all suck. Trust me, we even called my Representative! There is just nothing out there I qualify for. I have tried everything.)

I've spent $415 so far in tests. And I've missed 4 days of work unpaid and will miss at LEAST 3 more pending the outcome of how I feel. (I may miss two weeks as a result of the shot and the crappy side effects.) And, just the doctor's fee alone (not including the hospital stay or anesthesiologist) is $2,000. $800 of which I need up front as a down payment.

So.....all this leads to the question, how do I best raise funds for not only the medical expenses themselves but to help supplement my lost income during all this? I'm really trying to promote my etsy storefront but...it's hard to get people to find one shop out of thousands. I need to get some steady sales over the next few months to really help replace my lost wages.

My family is going to do a big garage sale to help raise funds but what else can I do? How do I spread the word? How do I get people to my shop and to my blog and get my sales up? It's not just my side hobby now, it's really going to be the difference if we can pay our bills or not right now. I'm so scared and it's weighing on me so heavy right now and I just don't know what to do.

Thanks for reading and for your ideas.

 

[NYwdwfan]

Wow. I feel for you - what a frightening ordeal. I wish I had ideas or suggestions - I will keep my mind thinking - but I wanted to just say I am thinking positive thoughts for you and wish you all the best.

 

[rsoxguy]

MissM,

Please accept my very sincere sympathy for the trials that you are facing. I pray that you will find a peace in the midst of this present storm in your life.

I am going to suggest a long shot of an idea, but desperate times call for desperate measures. There is an organization called Vocational Rehabilitation. They provide 100% free assistance to people who need aid with physical or mental issues that hinder them from working. If they accepted your condition, you would have to sit through a couple of sessions with them, but qualifying would mean that you would receive the help that you need.
In essence, the government would rather pay to "fix" your hindrance to working, than support you as an unemployed person for the rest of your life. I don't know if your physical condition qualifies for the program, but half of the battle is won because your condition does hinder you from working. Again, it's a long shot, but I hope that it helps. Here's the link http://www.rehabworks.org/

 

[Jimmy Thick]

I feel for you and your situation, as my mother had a recent cancer scare, which was very humbling to put it mildly.

As for your question on how to bring people to your site.


How many forums do you post at? Most forums allow you to link your blog in your signature.

Have you tried Craigslist? Your local Craigslist is a easy way to get in touch with local people. If you want to move beyond local, try the Craigslist in every major city. Write a nice little article for your services and a link to your website.

Another quick one, how you thought about opening a e-shop on Ebay or Amazon?

I'll think of more and drop some in this thread later.


Jimmy Thick-I wish I had more time...

 

[TinkerChelli]

OMG I just read every bit of what you wrote and I feel so bad sad and everything right about now
Take one day at a time ok, try not to overwhelm yourself with too many stressing thoughts ok.
I'm thinking hard for you about any places you can go and get some financial help, I am sure there are places out there for people who really need help.
I am wondering right now if you can go as a charity case. I know that some hospitals and Dr's accepts so many cases in a year. It can not hurt to ask and I will still look around and see if I can come up with other ideas ok.
Please keep your chin up and think great thoughts....Things can change and turn around. I have had a few scares myself. Just know you are not alone ok. If you need someone to listen to you please feel free to e-mail me ok.
I will start some checking here. Take care Lucille

 

[trr1]

try your local tv station to see if they will do a story. maybe then you can get some donations

Good luck:kiss:

 

[MissM]

Thanks for the thoughts and support so far guys. It means a lot.

I've also come up with an idea to ask my crafty friends to help donate some items to sell and set up a shop specifically for the medical bills. I know a lot of people who make soaps, who knit, who sew, etc. and if they all each did an item or two that would be a lot of things and it wouldn't be a big burden for any of them.

As you can see, I also changed my signature here to help people see the issue and of course, if anyone can please pass on my store link on their twitter, facebook, blog, etc. I would really appreciate it. The more people hear about it, the better.

Tomorrow I have the appointment for my shot and I admit, I'm really terrified. I just have no idea how I'm going to feel for the next two months and that's so scary. Plus, at the end of it, I still have surgery to face. It's just overwhelming.

 

[diddy_mouse]

I am so sorry to hear about what's going on.

After reading your post I tweeted your store link to my followers.

I wish you luck with everything, MissM...

 

[MissM]

I am so sorry to hear about what's going on.

After reading your post I tweeted your store link to my followers.

I wish you luck with everything, MissM...

Thank you, I appreciate it.

 

[mickeysshoes]

I am so sorry to hear what you have going on right now. Have you contacted your local Shriners?? I dont know if they will help you but it cant hurt to try. I know when my sister lived in Florida and did not have health insurance for her and her family they got hooked up with them to aid in the health issues of my niece Hannah. She is missing half of her 18th cromizone and needs all kinds of treatments for her body to grow and the Shriners were of the most help to my sister. They got Hannah the treatment and test she need. Good luck and be strong!!

 

[NYwdwfan]

I tweeted your shop link as well. Best of luck tomorrow - we are all thinking of you.

 

[MissM]

Hey guys...so much going on today that I just wrote up a big blog entry. Forgive me but I'm going to just copy and paste it here so I don't have to retype it all out.

Lots to cover so hopefully, this will make sense.

Shot
First, I got the shot. I only got a 1 month shot instead of the three month shot. (I thought he said two but I was on Valium at the time so I must have misheard.) I was really concerned about the side effects and once I took the shot if it was hell, there was no undoing it. So he gave me a one month to see how it goes. Also, I now know what the name of the shot is: Lupron. I have a follow-up visit in two weeks. (June 21st @ 1:15pm) The follow-up visit will be between $80-140. (Today's visit was $48) After the next visit, we will determine how things are progressing and whether I will get another one month, three month, or just go for surgery. It just depends on how the tumors shrink, how I feel and finances too I suppose.

Money
The other thing I discovered is that I have a $612 balance from the hospital treatment. It's separate from the hospital's own bill so it won't be covered if the hospital gets any charity aid for me. It also needs to be paid prior to the surgery. So in addition to the down payment of $800, now I also need to pay the balance of $612. The new goal is now $1,400 upfront and a total of $2,600 all together. (Not including things like the office visit costs.)

Work
I have the doctor's note for this week so I'll take the next few days to see how I feel and how I can function. I will apparently have some bad cramps the next few days. I also have an increased risk of migraines both from coming off the Pill and from the Lupron itself. I am hopeful that I will be able to maybe go back to work next week at least until my appointment but it depends on how the next few days pan out. They said that if I need something for my work they will fax something so I don't lose my job. I really need to make some income though so I'm hoping I feel well enough to get a few hours in.

Blood Pressure
He wants me to see a primary care physician because he says my blood pressure is high. I say it's just because I'm stressed out of my mind. It's normally low. He says stress wouldn't account for it being this high. I say he doesn't understand the sheer amount of stress I'm in. It's high because I'm just in a perpetual state of panic. Whatever, I'll worry about that later. Right now, it's really not a concern because I think once all this is over with, I will be calmer and therefore my blood pressure will go down on it's own. This isn't exactly the time to try and make changes given the fact I'm artificially overtaxed right now and you can't really get a "normal" baseline in this kind of situation.

General
I'm stressed as we already mentioned. I'm worried that the one month shot wasn't the right call but I'm also worried that the three month was too much, so I really don't know what the answer should have been and of course, now I'm second-guessing myself. But he offered it as an option so... I know one month most likely won't be enough and I'll need another shot but I just felt like there was no going back once that three month one was in me. I feel like at least this way, I can get a month to see how I react instead of three months of unknown. I mean, a month is scary enough as it is, you know? I'm worried that because he donated the shot, if I need another, he might not have a donation one for me. And the one month shot is like $600 and the three month one is like $2,000 apparently. But I can't dwell on that because it's done and he said he'll give it to me if he has it and it seems unlikely that he'll use it in the next two weeks until my appointment. I mean, it's been sitting there as it was so what's another few weeks...? I don't know. I'm just worried. Worried about everything.

Etsy Donations
I've had a lot of good feedback and a lot of people willing to help donate items to an etsy shop for me and that is just so wonderful. I'm so grateful. I will work on getting the shop up and running this week and am working to get back to everyone who wants to donate an item. Just wanted to acknowledge and say thank you to all my friends who are helping in this endeavor.

Car Problems
One last thing to be stressed about...I had an appointment to get Love's car looked at the weekend I wound up in the ER. The A/C stopped working and we wanted to take it back to the place that did the work last summer since it was under warranty still. Well, needless to say, with the ER stay, we never made the appointment. Love's been using my car since my a/c works and I haven't needed it. But today I needed my car to get to my appointment. He took his. Well, turns out not only is the a/c not coming on, but the radiator fan isn't either and the car overheated. Now he can't drive it home and it's stuck at his work which is about 45 minutes from home. He'll get a ride home tonight but...we need to get the car, get it towed and get it somewhere to be fixed now with all this going on and with who knows what money. When it rains, it not only pours, it wipes out entire eff'n villages.

The End
And I think that's enough for now. Like I said, a lot to cover. I'm exhausted though so I think I'm going to lay down for now and deal with replying to things, working on the new shop, etc. later.​

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Posted your story and links on my blog and twitter and forum Iam an admin at.

Something I was recommended.

See if your place of employ will allow you to have a fundraiser for your medical bills. Some places will do this and some will even match dollar for dollar whatever is earned. The reason most people don't try is because they think whom ever they work for don't care, which is not true in a lot of cases, or they don't ask. It couldn't hurt.

Hope you are well.


Jimmy Thick-Still trying...

 

[MissM]

Well, I had wanted to get back to work for a couple weeks while on the Lupron, (to earn some income of course!) but my work will not allow me to return without a doctor's note stating I am 100% cleared for ALL my duties and my FULL schedule.

Obviously I can't say that right now as I am under continuing medical care and would be in-and-out as I was able to work and inbetween appointments. This means we are now completely down an income. It is absolutely vital that I get people to pass along my links in order to offset my lost income.

Donation Shop: http://PhoenixFunds.etsy.com
My Shop: http://PhoenixFireDesigns.etsy.com

Thanks for reading.

 

[Laura]

Sorry to read this. I currently have no health insurance for the first time in my entire life and I am terrified every day of getting sick or something like this happening.

Can you use a credit card? Does the hospital have financing? Is there some sort of public assistance you could get through social services? I ask out of my own ignorance because I have no idea where I would turn if in the same situation.

 

[MissM]

Can you use a credit card? Does the hospital have financing? Is there some sort of public assistance you could get through social services? I ask out of my own ignorance because I have no idea where I would turn if in the same situation.

No I don't have anywhere near that kind of credit available to me.

I have charity paperwork in processing for the hospital but that's just for the hospital. Each entity is separate, so I need to pay the OB/GYN, the Anesthesiologist, the Radiologist and the Hospital all independently. The money I need is just for my doctor's surgical fees.

I've already applied and been denied medical assistance. In Florida, Medicaid goes through the Department of Children and Families so you can not qualify unless you are pregnant or have children. (Or disabled or a non-citizen.) I have no kids. (In fact, I am unable to have kids because of what I need the funds for.)

It's a really miserable situation. Someone who works, pays taxes, is an upstanding citizen that just runs into a medical emergency doesn't qualify for anything.

 

[DMC-12]

MissM,

I am so sorry for the situation you are currently in.

I had kidney surgey about 9 months ago. I HAD insurance... and even with my craptacular insurance... I still wound up (and still am paying) out of pocket for the procedure. Long story short... I had a huge battle with BCBS of IL... and I still wound up paying.

Positive thoughts heading your way. I know its a really really tough spot to be in. I was sick for 18 months prior to my surgery... and when they finally found the problem... and fixed it... they still stuck me with the bill.. so I couldnt win either way... it was just a huge mess.. and it took such a toll on me just fighting the Dr. bills and ins company.

Anyways... enough of my rambling.
I will check out your etsy store later tonight when I get home.
I know its not much... but... Positive thoughts heading your way.

 

[Laura]

I've already applied and been denied medical assistance. In Florida, Medicaid goes through the Department of Children and Families so you can not qualify unless you are pregnant or have children. (Or disabled or a non-citizen.)

You're kidding me!

I am constantly baffled by public assistance. It should be readily available to people who are upstanding citizens such as yourself. People who work hard, but have had something unfortunate happen to them (medical condition, job loss, etc.) that would cause them to need TEMPORARY assistance. It should not be available to the majority of people who receive it.

 

[MissM]

MissM,

I am so sorry for the situation you are currently in.

I had kidney surgey about 9 months ago. I HAD insurance... and even with my craptacular insurance... I still wound up (and still am paying) out of pocket for the procedure. Long story short... I had a huge battle with BCBS of IL... and I still wound up paying.

Positive thoughts heading your way. I know its a really really tough spot to be in. I was sick for 18 months prior to my surgery... and when they finally found the problem... and fixed it... they still stuck me with the bill.. so I couldnt win either way... it was just a huge mess.. and it took such a toll on me just fighting the Dr. bills and ins company.

Anyways... enough of my rambling.
I will check out your etsy store later tonight when I get home.
I know its not much... but... Positive thoughts heading your way.

Yeah it's really unbelievable how hard it can be WITH insurance to get the tests, treatments and care you need so being without in something this big...? Ugh.

I appreciate the thoughts and even if you can just pass on my link it would mean a lot. By the way, great username. Back to the Future is my favorite movie of all time so I have a fondness for DeLoreans.

You're kidding me!

I am constantly baffled by public assistance. It should be readily available to people who are upstanding citizens such as yourself. People who work hard, but have had something unfortunate happen to them (medical condition, job loss, etc.) that would cause them to need TEMPORARY assistance. It should not be available to the majority of people who receive it.

Yeah it seems absurd to me too. Medical emergencies are, well, emergencies and people shouldn't be punished or risk losing everything they have because of them.

 

[MissM]

Just wanted to give an update. Some good news, some not so good news.

First, the good news. I had a biopsy of my uterus and I got the results back a couple days ago: benign. Yay! I mean, they were almost 100% sure that the tumors were non-cancerous but...being so big and so many of them, they had to check. It's a relief to know that it's definitely NOT cancer. :sohappy:

The not so good news? I got my hospital bill for my ER trip and overnight. Total? $13,347.20

Oh but they're generous enough to knock 40% off for being uninsured. That makes it a paltry $8,008.32. Pocket change!

I filled out paperwork with the hospital to request charity and medical assistance in paying the $8,000 bill but I don't know yet if I'll be approved and what amount if any will be paid. I've also received a $248 radiology bill and apparently another bill from some other division is forthcoming. (They were polite enough to call me on my cell to confirm the address was correct so they could be sure I received the bill. Thoughtful of them, no?)

I'm almost two weeks on the Lupron shot right now. Lots of body aches, extreme fatigue and a dramatic increase in my migraines so far. The Lupron puts me in a temporary medical menopause which shuts down my estrogen production and since the tumors are fed by estrogen, hopefully starves them and shrinks them. I go in for a follow-up on Tuesday to see how I'm doing and determine if we go another month or another 3 months or what on the shot.

I'm tired of all the waiting though. And my work won't let me come back on a limited schedule; it's all or nothing, so last Friday was payday...and I didn't get paid. We're officially on one income now.

I've been trying to update my shop and the fundraiser shop with new items as often as possible. This week has been hard because Love's dad wound up in the ER as well with a massive infection, gallbladder surgery and was in the CCU. He's finally improving now but really, I can't put into words how overwhelmed we both are right now. It's just way too much.

So that's where we are now. Still in Limbo and still spinning my wheels. Not sure when I'll be having surgery, not sure if my ER bills will get paid and not sure if I can schedule surgery if charity doesn't pay them. (The hospital doesn't have to let me schedule surgery if I have an outstanding balance with them.) All-in-all, just a lot of questions, not a lot of answers.

I would greatly appreciate if anyone can post my links on twitter/facebook/blogs/etc. to help spread the word. I'm still desperately trying to raise money for my medical bills, the surgery and living expenses now that we have lost my income.

Donation Shop: http://PhoenixFunds.etsy.com
My Shop: http://PhoenixFireDesigns.etsy.com

Thanks for reading and helping spread the word.