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Gustavo's hip replacement surgery can't wait - please help us cover the bill

Gustavo needs hip replacement surgery at Columbia Orthopedic Institute and the family is $6,800 short of the hospital's estimate.

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Manuel D. Acosta
Email verifiedDriver licence verifiedPhoto verified
Columbia
Gustavo was diagnosed with a herniated spinal disc in December. The surgeon at Columbia Orthopedic Institute recommended hip replacement surgery, and He is scheduled for March. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $13,500, and after what my insurance will pay we're still $6,800 short. my son has been in and out of Columbia Orthopedic Institute since December. The doctors say a herniated spinal disc will get worse without hip replacement surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $13,500 is more than we can find. While we wait, Gustavo struggles with daily life and can't climb stairs. His family has taken turns caring for him, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. The recovery period is expected to take about 7 weeks. During that time Gustavo won't be able to climb stairs, so the costs keep growing. 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 $6,800 goes: • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $2,800 • Hospital stay (5 nights): $2,450 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $330 • Post-operative medication: $300 • Physiotherapy sessions: $620 • Travel and lodging for the family: $300 I never thought I'd be the one asking, and I'm grateful for every bit of support. - Manuel
due date
2026-04-02
bill type
Hospital invoice

Updates from Manuel

  1. Thank you all. We're at 63% now ($4,263). I'm honestly stunned. the first invoice got paid this week.

  2. Update from Columbia: we've started the first stage. We're at 29% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  • Sneha Ranade 🇮🇳 · $1,000
  • Angela Lombardi 🇮🇹 · $1,000
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $500
  • Valentina P. Frazier 🇬🇧 · $250
  • Pooja N. Parikh 🇮🇳 · $250

    “You got this. Please keep us posted. - Tiruchirappalli”

  • Lanre Olumide Jimoh 🇳🇬 · $250
  • Juliana Amanda Fonseca 🇧🇷 · $250
  • Aaliyah E. Black 🇬🇧 · $200
  • Ignacio N. Peña 🇺🇸 · $200

    “Happy to help. Thought of Gustavo all day after reading this. - Hialeah”

  • Paloma J. Gómez 🇪🇸 · $100

    “Be well. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Málaga”

  • Jannat Dola Saha 🇧🇩 · $100

    “God bless. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Cox's Bazar”

  • Chloe Powell 🇺🇸 · $100

    “Best of luck. Hope the April deadline works out. - Fresno”

  • Feyza Sibel Altun 🇹🇷 · $100

    “Thinking of you. Thought of Gustavo all day after reading this.”

  • Khadija Amira El-Sayed 🇪🇬 · $100

    “Happy to help. Hope you get the rest soon. - Shubra”

  • Kunle Musa Idowu 🇳🇬 · $100

    “All the best. Hope you get the rest soon. - Gwagwalada”

  • Danuta Zuzanna Szczepański 🇵🇱 · $100
  • Victoria B. Williams 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Dua Sadia Sheikh 🇵🇰 · $100
  • Lệ Yến Diep 🇻🇳 · $100
  • Bagus Bagus Suryadi 🇮🇩 · $100

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  • Lincoln HarveyPhoto verified

    shared it with a few friends. My neighbor in Nairobi donated after I showed her your page. God bless.

    • is there anything that isn't money that would help Gustavo?

      • Manuel D. AcostaOwnerAnswerID verifiedPhoto verified

        Thank you. If you're in Columbia I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. Thanks for looking so closely.

    • Good luck, Manuel. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. All the best.

      • take care. Looking forward to the next update. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. All the best.

        • Sending good thoughts, Manuel. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Love from Las Cruces.

          • good luck, Manuel. Get well soon. Greetings from Gaziantep.

            • Sending love, Manuel. Look after yourselves too, caregivers need rest. Take care

              • Nkechi Joy QuadriPhoto verified

                Take care, Manuel. Your post was clear and honest. Greetings from Anaheim

                • Hope things get better soon, Manuel. Looking forward to the next update. After 9 years in construction I know how hard it's to ask for anything.

                  $8,688 raised of $6,800

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