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A partial thyroidectomy for Gerald: covering what insurance won't

Gerald needs a partial thyroidectomy at Tacoma Regional Medical Center and the family is $4,950 short of the hospital's estimate.

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Raymond K. Diaz
Email verified
Tacoma
Gerald was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the right knee in August. The surgeon at Tacoma Regional Medical Center recommended a partial thyroidectomy, and He is scheduled for November. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $6,500, and after what the public health scheme will pay we're still $4,950 short. my son has been in and out of Tacoma Regional Medical Center since August. The doctors say osteoarthritis in the right knee will get worse without a partial thyroidectomy. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $6,500 is more than we can find. While we wait, Gerald struggles with daily life and can't lift anything heavy. His family has taken turns caring for him, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. Recovery is expected to take about 3 weeks. During that time Gerald won't be able to lift anything heavy, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $4,950 goes: • Hospital stay (4 nights): $1,600 • Travel and lodging for the family: $290 • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $2,850 • Post-operative medication: $210 Thank you so much.
due date
2026-11-05
bill type
Hospital invoice
#surgery#hospital-bills#recovery#medical

Updates from Raymond

  1. We're at 25% thanks to 32 of you. I made the first payment toward surgeon and anesthesia fees. More news soon.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($740 in total) we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  3. Good news. Because of your gifts ($529 in total) we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

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    “Best of luck. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Belo Horizonte”

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    “Keep your head up. Only $50 but hope it helps. - Fresno”

  • Alexandre Valentin Nguyen 🇫🇷 · $47.50

    “Get well soon. Thought of Gerald all day after reading this.”

  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $34

    “Sending love. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Ogbomosho”

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  • Esi Mavis AlhassanQuestion

    can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near Tacoma

    • Raymond K. DiazOwnerAnswer

      Sharing the link is the biggest thing. And if you know anything about hospital stay (4 nights), advice is welcome too. Appreciate you taking the time.

  • Kennedy Perkins

    Look after yourselves too, caregivers need rest. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Greetings from Embakasi.

    • Amber Little

      Wishing Gerald a smooth procedure and a full recovery.

      • Mykola Ruslan Medvedev

        Thanks for sharing this. Get well soon. We're a small family in Orlando but we're thinking of you.

        $2,195.50 raised of $4,950

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