A craniotomy for Wanjiru: covering what insurance won't

Wanjiru was diagnosed with a deviated septum causing chronic infections in August. The surgeon at Dar es Salaam Orthopedic Institute recommended a craniotomy, and She is scheduled for November. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $1,150, and after what our health plan will pay we're still $800 short. my mother has been in and out of Dar es Salaam Orthopedic Institute since August. The doctors say a deviated septum causing chronic infections will get worse without a craniotomy. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $1,150 is more than we can find. While we wait, Wanjiru struggles with daily life and can't walk without help. Her family has taken turns caring for her, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. Recovery is expected to take about 7 weeks. During that time Wanjiru won't be able to walk without help, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $800 goes: • Post-operative medication: $30 • Hospital stay (2 nights): $280 • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $420 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $70 Thanks for reading all this. - Waweru