Bills & expensesMedical & healthCritical
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.
🇨🇴 Colombia3,208 views
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
Updates from Isabel
Thank you all. We're at 60% now ($867). I'm honestly stunned. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit.
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.
- Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $354
“Thought of Isabel all day after reading this. - Guarulhos”
- Pavel Roman Kovalev 🇷🇺 · $100
- Huda Rima Naguib 🇸🇦 · $100
- Vivian R. Vargas 🇺🇸 · $100
- Rafaela Elaine Santos 🇧🇷 · $100
- Dorcas Eunice Omondi 🇺🇬 · $75
- Nour Fatima Maalouf 🇪🇬 · $75
“Wishing you the best. Only $75 but hope it helps. - Mansoura”
- Modupe Titilayo Nwachukwu 🇳🇬 · $75
- Anjali Indira Joshi 🇳🇵 · $50
- Wangari Athumani 🇰🇪 · $50
- Kavitha W. Rajan 🇮🇳 · $50
- Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $50
- Edoardo Valerio Galli 🇮🇹 · $50
- Raju Gurung 🇳🇵 · $50
- Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $42
- Luca P. Rogers 🇺🇸 · $30
- Iqra Javeria Cheema 🇵🇰 · $30
- Kasun Thilina Senanayake 🇱🇰 · $25
“Be well. Thought of Isabel all day after reading this. - Colombo”
- Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $25
- Lena Ingrid Schumacher 🇩🇪 · $25
“All the best. From Düsseldorf with love. - Düsseldorf”
Reviews
Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.
No reviews yet.
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.
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.
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.
Stay strong, Isabel. Looking forward to the next update. Please keep us posted. Love from Quezon City
Sending love, Isabel. Gave what I could, wish it was more. I'll check back for the next update. Love from Mumbai.
Thinking of you and your family, Isabel. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side.
Keep going, Isabel. Looking forward to the next update. Sent it to 9 people at work. Love from Saint Petersburg.