Hi, my name is Edward and I'm raising funds to cover my quickly rising medical costs. I have a number of medical issues that have come up recently and they couldn't have happened at a worse time for me.
Lost My Dream Job
You see, I just lost my dream job, one that I worked really hard at getting. I had insurance and all the benefits that come with a job like mine, but then several months ago I was informed that my position was being eliminated. They said it was due to the company "restructuring" and the result was that I would lose my job. That was bad news and it was devastating. But I've been through it before, unfortunately, and I know pretty much what to do. I'm a survivor, an overcomer, and I looked at this turn of events as another challenge and something to once again, just have to deal with and recover from. When my health issues came to light right after this development, I had a feeling I might be in trouble and I was right.
Medical Issues
Shortly after losing my job, I experienced internal bleeding from a peptic stomach ulcer and had to be hospitalized. We don't know why exactly the ulcers are there. We know it's not from drinking because I don't consume alcohol. These things just happen sometimes. During this hospital visit, while addressing my stomach ulcers and loss of blood, the doctors discovered that I also have heart failure. It was determined that my heart was only functioning at a diminished efficiency level. It's not pumping at the full strength that it normally should be. Upon further investigation, it turns out that I have severe blockage in an artery that needs to be fixed. But there's another issue. This one I've known about for some time because it was inherited. I suffer from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), of which there is no cure. I will be needing dialysis eventually, and if I'm a candidate, and if things go well, maybe a kidney transplant at some point in the future. The doctors normally would fix my heart blockage with a routine catheterization stint placement, but due to my kidney failure, things are much more complicated. My peptic ulcers are also complicating things so my procedures are more complex than for an average patient. All these factors combined are a real challenge for my medical team and result in a great deal of extra medical expense.
Bills Piling Up
In the meantime, my medical bills are piling up. Even with insurance (I'm currently enrolled in COBRA continuation since losing my job, as my main benefits have discontinued), and supplemental Aflac, there are still an incredible amount of expenses adding up that are threatening to sink me financially, and I need help. I hope to get back on my feet so I can resume my normal healthy life, or as close to one as I possibly can. I believe that I have a lot of living left to do, and God willing, if I can recover physically, mentally, and financially (spiritually I'm going to be fine one way or another, because I have Jesus, in my life), I can get back to being a productive member of society.
Goal is to Raise $25,000 by December 31, 2021
With the way things are going, and with what the doctors are proposing in terms of my healthcare needs, my medical out-of-pocket costs are going to pass the $50K mark by the end of 2021. I am hoping to raise $25,000 in this effort by December 31, 2021. I think I can cover the balance, but this amount will definitely go a long way in helping me.
Continuing the Good Fight
Over the years I've been through a number of setbacks, had to face numerous challenges, gone through hardships of many kinds, have lost good jobs for one reason or another through no fault of my own and had to find new ones. But my health was never really an issue like this until now. I know that if I can get the financial help I'm looking for, I'll then be able to get back to doing what I love, and that's helping other people, and living life to the fullest! Which means many things but most importantly; being a good husband to my lovely and beautiful wife, a good parishiner for my church, a good neighbor, father, brother, citizen, future employee, etc. Any amount that you can contribute will be greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless you!
Edward's lovely wife, JB
Jesus, the Great Healer - Statue at Houston Methodist Hospital, Sugar Land TX
