Skip to content
HelpBLESS
Bills & expensesMedical & health

Gallbladder removal for Julieta: covering what insurance won't

Julieta needs gallbladder removal at St. Louis Community Hospital and the family is $3,150 short of the hospital's estimate.

🇺🇸 St. Louis, Missouri, United States3,512 views
Rosa F. Velasco
Email verified
St. Louis
Julieta was diagnosed with severe cataracts in both eyes in January. The surgeon at St. Louis Community Hospital recommended gallbladder removal, and She is scheduled for March. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $4,500, and after what the government subsidy will pay we're still $3,150 short. my sister has been in and out of St. Louis Community Hospital since January. The doctors say severe cataracts in both eyes will get worse without gallbladder removal. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $4,500 is more than we can find. While we wait, Julieta struggles with daily life and can't climb stairs. Her family has taken turns caring for her, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. The recovery period is expected to take about 12 weeks. During that time Julieta won't be able to climb stairs, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $3,150 goes: • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $250 • Post-operative medication: $160 • Hospital stay (4 nights): $1,600 • Travel and lodging for the family: $195 • Physiotherapy sessions: $945 I never thought I'd be the one asking, and I'm grateful for every bit of support.
due date
2025-03-28
bill type
Hospital invoice

Updates from Rosa

  1. Update from St. Louis: I met with the hospital and confirmed the amounts. We're at 81% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($857 in total) the first invoice got paid this week. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  • Mia C. Avila 🇺🇸 · $67

    “Best of luck. Only $67 but hope it helps. - Springfield”

  • Alejandro A. Guzmán 🇲🇽 · $50

    “All the best. Thought of Julieta all day after reading this. - Ciudad de México”

  • Aparecida Carolina Pacheco 🇧🇷 · $20.50
  • Anderson Manoel Gonçalves 🇧🇷 · $20
  • Aileen S. Rivera 🇵🇭 · $10
  • Iryna Vera Yakovlev 🇺🇦 · $56.50

    “Hang in there. Saw your post and had to give. - Kharkiv”

  • Riley E. Wheeler 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Anderson Heitor Cavalcanti 🇧🇷 · $50

    “Happy to help. Thought of Julieta all day after reading this. - Uberlândia”

  • Beatrice Winnie Opio 🇰🇪 · $15

    “Every little bit. Only $15 but hope it helps. - Kakamega”

  • Chidinma Favour Balogun 🇳🇬 · $100

    “Wish I could do more. I'm in Kaduna, thinking of you. - Kaduna”

  • Inbar Barak 🇮🇱 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇵🇭 · $10
  • Indira N. Chowdary 🇮🇳 · $10
  • Prabha Piumi Pathirana 🇱🇰 · $25

    “Sending love. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Kandy”

  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $20

    “From my family to yours. I'm in Wudil, thinking of you. - Wudil”

  • Nuria B. Rojas 🇦🇷 · $10
  • Hailey C. Thomas 🇬🇧 · $74
  • Kamini C. Ngcobo 🇿🇦 · $15
  • Susana R. Ramírez 🇪🇸 · $10
  • Dennis Mukasa Temba 🇰🇪 · $25

Reviews

2.6(7 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Elaine Jéssica Cardoso🇧🇷Verified helper
    Exactly what I needed

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Gabriel C. Kirby🇬🇧Verified donor
    Reliable and compassionate

    The difference this person made in my life cannot be overstated. They were patient, kind, and persistent in helping me find solutions. Truly exceptional.

  • Rin Nanami Takada🇯🇵Verified donor
    Changed my perspective

    This is the kind of person who restores your faith in humanity. They didn't just offer help; they genuinely cared about my wellbeing and followed through on every commitment.

  • Lilian Lola Popoola🇳🇬Verified donor
    Quick response, great follow-up

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

  • Vanessa Mia Böhm🇩🇪Verified helper
    Very responsive and caring

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Adeline Schwartz🇺🇸Verified helper
    Delivered on promises

    I was skeptical at first, but this person proved to be reliable and genuinely interested in helping. Their response time was incredible and their solutions were practical.

  • Fernando G. Enriquez🇵🇭Verified helper
    Great help in a difficult time

    This is the kind of person who restores your faith in humanity. They didn't just offer help; they genuinely cared about my wellbeing and followed through on every commitment.

Questions & comments

Ask before you give. Email-verified members can comment and ask questions - no donation needed.

Sign in or create a free account to join the conversation.

  • sending strength, Rosa. Shared this with my family. I have a 14 year old who wants to send good wishes too. God bless.

    • wishing you peace, Rosa. Hope you get there. Wish I lived closer to Leeds so I could bring a meal. Thinking of St. Louis

      • Thanks for sharing this. It takes guts to ask. Well done. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. Love from San Jose

        • Wishing you the best, Rosa. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. All the best.

          • Marc Thierry LaurentPhoto verified

            Sending strength, Rosa. Looking forward to the next update. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. God bless.

            • Take care, Rosa. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

              $3,432 raised of $3,150

              Give

              More people who need help