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Eli's cataract surgery can't wait - please help us cover the bill

Eli needs cataract surgery at Tampa Orthopedic Institute and the family is $7,350 short of the hospital's estimate.

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Eli F. Knight
Email verifiedAddress verified
Tampa
In February I was diagnosed with a cleft palate needing repair. My surgeon at Tampa Orthopedic Institute recommended cataract surgery, and I have been placed on the schedule for June. The hospital's financial office gave me a written estimate of $9,750, and after what the public health scheme will pay, I'm still $7,350 short. Doctors at Tampa Orthopedic Institute told me a cleft palate needing repair will get worse without cataract surgery. I work as a call-centre agent, and I have saved what I can, but the estimate of $9,750 is far beyond what I've. Until the surgery I can't work full days, and my hours as a call-centre agent have already been cut. Every week of waiting means more pain and a bigger risk. Rehabilitation is expected to take about 5 weeks. I'll not be able to look after the children alone during that time, so this has become a financial emergency as well as a medical one. The money goes straight to the treatment bills, and I'll share the invoices as they're paid so you can see exactly what your gift did. Where the $7,350 goes: • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $3,500 • Hospital stay (5 nights): $2,450 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $490 • Post-operative medication: $230 • Physiotherapy sessions: $330 • Travel and lodging for the family: $350 Thanks for reading all this. - Eli
due date
2026-06-17
bill type
Hospital invoice
#surgery#hospital-bills#recovery#medical

Updates from Eli

  1. 87% there. I made the first payment toward post-operative medication. Thank you.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($3,225 in total) I met with the hospital and confirmed the amounts. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  3. Small update. $2,047 so far, the first invoice got paid this week.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Valentina Gonzales 🇨🇦 · $1,000
  • Christian K. Page 🇬🇧 · $711
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $500
  • Selim Onur Güneş 🇹🇷 · $500
  • Anonymous 🇯🇵 · $250

    “Rooting for you. Only $250 but hope it helps. - Setagaya”

  • Sebastião Pereira 🇧🇷 · $250

    “Keep your head up. Please keep us posted. - Petrópolis”

  • Courtney K. Cooper 🇺🇸 · $200
  • Dennis L. Clark 🇬🇧 · $200
  • Zubair Shahid Naqvi 🇵🇰 · $200

    “Be well. Hope the May deadline works out. - Sukkur”

  • Elijah D. Rivers 🇨🇦 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $100
  • Chalerm Sakda Pattanasiri 🇹🇭 · $100
  • Margaux Nathalie Carpentier 🇨🇦 · $100
  • Waseem Haris Ali 🇵🇰 · $100

    “Sending love. Thought of Eli all day after reading this. - Lahore”

  • Leandro Leite 🇧🇷 · $100

    “Good luck. Been where you are, it gets better. - Pelotas”

  • Peter Dieter Franke 🇩🇪 · $100

    “Good luck. Thought of Eli all day after reading this. - Nuremberg”

  • Gabriella Walker 🇦🇺 · $100
  • Petro Zakharov 🇺🇦 · $100

    “Wishing you the best. Only $100 but hope it helps. - Kyiv”

  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $100
  • Aleena Javeria Mughal 🇵🇰 · $100

    “Thought of Eli all day after reading this. - Faisalabad”

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  • Ayşe Şule Bozkurt

    So sorry you're going through this, Eli. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Sent it to 20 people at work. Take care.

    • Michelle M. PascualPhoto verified

      Thanks for sharing this. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. Don't be hard on yourself for asking.

      • Ajay Bhardwaj

        good luck, Eli. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected.

        • Manuel B. Cordero

          Shared this with my family. My neighbor in Hồ Chí Minh City donated after I showed her your page. Take care.

          • Greyson R. BennettID verified

            Thanks for sharing this. Shared this with my family. Love from Lagos

            $8,536 raised of $7,350

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