Gallbladder removal for Johanna: covering what insurance won't

Johanna was diagnosed with a hip fracture that never healed properly in July. The surgeon at Nuremberg Community Hospital recommended gallbladder removal, and She is scheduled for October. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $9,250, and after what the public health scheme will pay we're still $5,550 short. my sister has been in and out of Nuremberg Community Hospital since July. The doctors say a hip fracture that never healed properly will get worse without gallbladder removal. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $9,250 is more than we can find. While we wait, Johanna 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 Johanna 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 $5,550 goes: • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $1,900 • Hospital stay (2 nights): $2,350 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $470 • Post-operative medication: $270 • Physiotherapy sessions: $370 • Travel and lodging for the family: $190 Thanks for reading all this. - Jan