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Knee replacement surgery for Isabel: covering what insurance won't

After a cleft palate needing repair, Isabel was cleared for knee replacement surgery, but the bill is more than we can manage.

🇨🇴 Colombia3,207 views
Isabel N. Galindo
Email verifiedNational ID verified
Bogotá
In August I was diagnosed with a cleft palate needing repair. My surgeon at Bogotá University Hospital recommended knee replacement surgery, and I have been placed on the schedule for October. The hospital's financial office gave me a written estimate of $2,400, and after what our health plan will pay, I'm still $1,450 short. Doctors at Bogotá University Hospital told me a cleft palate needing repair will get worse without knee replacement surgery. I work as a school bus driver, and I have saved what I can, but the estimate of $2,400 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. The recovery period is expected to take about 10 weeks. I'll not be able to walk without help 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 $1,450 goes: • Travel and lodging for the family: $120 • Hospital stay (2 nights): $270 • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $900 • Post-operative medication: $35 • Physiotherapy sessions: $125 I never thought I'd be the one asking, and I'm grateful for every bit of support. - Isabel
due date
2026-10-18
bill type
Hospital invoice
#surgery#hospital-bills#recovery#medical

Updates from Isabel

  1. Thank you all. We're at 60% now ($867). I'm honestly stunned. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit.

  2. Update from Bogotá: we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. We're at 36% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $42
  • Kasun Thilina Senanayake 🇱🇰 · $25

    “Be well. Thought of Isabel all day after reading this. - Colombo”

  • Divina N. Garcia 🇵🇭 · $20
  • Anjali Indira Joshi 🇳🇵 · $50
  • Gabriella Montgomery 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Cristian F. Álvarez 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Wangari Athumani 🇰🇪 · $50
  • Pavel Roman Kovalev 🇷🇺 · $100
  • Mana Himari Nakano 🇯🇵 · $19
  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $25
  • Leo Elliott 🇺🇸 · $14

    “Wish I could do more. Only $14 but hope it helps. - Syracuse”

  • Lena Ingrid Schumacher 🇩🇪 · $25

    “All the best. From Düsseldorf with love. - Düsseldorf”

  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $25

    “Best of luck. Saw your post and had to give. - Awka”

  • Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $354

    “Thought of Isabel all day after reading this. - Guarulhos”

  • Olivia R. Wells 🇦🇺 · $25
  • Popy Shirin Rashid 🇧🇩 · $25

    “Get well soon. My brother told me about this one. - Savar”

  • Sneha N. Pawar 🇮🇳 · $20
  • Tumusiime Otieno Mutua 🇰🇪 · $20
  • Kavitha W. Rajan 🇮🇳 · $50
  • Huda Rima Naguib 🇸🇦 · $100

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  • Sara Huda Hamdan

    thanks for sharing this. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Don't give up. Love from Brisbane.

    • Anna Noemi Romano

      Hope things get better soon, Isabel. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Love from Juazeiro do Norte.

      • Hendrik F. Zulu

        Stay strong, Isabel. Looking forward to the next update. Please keep us posted. Love from Quezon City

        • Shilpa N. Singh

          Sending love, Isabel. Gave what I could, wish it was more. I'll check back for the next update. Love from Mumbai.

          • Intan Zahra Lestari

            Thinking of you and your family, Isabel. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side.

            • Mi-sook Hye-won Baek

              Keep going, Isabel. Looking forward to the next update. Sent it to 9 people at work. Love from Saint Petersburg.

              $1,875.50 raised of $1,450

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