Bills & expensesMedical & healthUrgent
ACL reconstruction for Elias: covering what insurance won't
Elias needs ACL reconstruction at Saint Mary Hospital and the family is $6,650 short of the hospital's estimate.
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In January I was diagnosed with an aortic valve defect. My surgeon at Saint Mary Hospital recommended ACL reconstruction, and I have been placed on the schedule for March. The hospital's financial office gave me a written estimate of $13,250, and after what our health plan will pay, I'm still $6,650 short.
Doctors at Saint Mary Hospital told me an aortic valve defect will get worse without ACL reconstruction. I work as a school bus driver, and I have saved what I can, but the estimate of $13,250 is far beyond what I've.
Until the surgery I can't work full days, and my hours as a school bus driver have already been cut. Every week of waiting means more pain and a bigger risk.
Recovery is expected to take about 4 weeks. I'll not be able to climb stairs during that time, so this has become a financial emergency as well as a medical one.
I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section.
Where the $6,650 goes:
• Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $3,700
• Hospital stay (2 nights): $1,100
• Pre-operative tests and imaging: $570
• Post-operative medication: $310
• Physiotherapy sessions: $800
• Travel and lodging for the family: $170
Thank you for reading my story.
- Elias
- due date
- 2026-02-28
- bill type
- Hospital invoice
Updates from Elias
Small update. $1,080 so far, we've booked the dates and paid the deposit.
- Daniel Manoel Machado 🇧🇷 · $200
- Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $25
“Keep your head up. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Wudil”
- Natália Beatriz Barros 🇧🇷 · $10
- Idris Nabil Aziz 🇫🇷 · $15
- Surachai Chanthara 🇹🇭 · $100
“Thought of Elias all day after reading this. - Bangkok”
- Brandon P. Snyder 🇺🇸 · $10
“Rooting for you. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Tacoma”
- Quang Vũ Mai 🇻🇳 · $25
- Waylon R. Carrillo 🇺🇸 · $50
- Alejandra C. Núñez 🇲🇽 · $5
- Slamet Rizky Gozali 🇮🇩 · $50
- Yuki Osamu Murata 🇯🇵 · $20
- Michal Leah Segal 🇮🇱 · $30
- Gerald A. Hamilton 🇺🇸 · $5
- Afshan Aleena Farooqi 🇵🇰 · $25
- Owen B. Jacobs 🇺🇸 · $44
“Hope the March deadline works out. - Dallas”
- Tamanna Lamia Saha 🇮🇳 · $100
“Be well. From Warangal with love. - Warangal”
- Riaan L. Petersen 🇿🇦 · $100
- Vani T. Panwar 🇮🇳 · $50
“Keep your head up. Hope the March deadline works out. - Kochi”
- Ruma Parvez 🇧🇩 · $10
- Sônia Sandra Barros 🇧🇷 · $50
“Keep your head up. Hope the March deadline works out. - São Paulo”
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hang in there. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. All the best.
Thanks for sharing this. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day. Love from Manchester.
rooting for you, Elias. Shared it with a few friends. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. God bless.
Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Please keep us posted. Thinking of Edmonton