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Spinal decompression surgery for Ethan: covering what insurance won't

A scheduled spinal decompression surgery in May is out of reach without help covering $3,150 of the cost.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australia1,742 views
Kylie Nelson
Email verifiedDriver licence verified
Newcastle
Ethan was diagnosed with gallstones with repeated infections in January. The surgeon at Saint Francis Hospital recommended spinal decompression surgery, and He is scheduled for May. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $4,200, and after what my employer's plan will pay we're still $3,150 short. my son has been in and out of Saint Francis Hospital since January. The doctors say gallstones with repeated infections will get worse without spinal decompression surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $4,200 is more than we can find. While we wait, Ethan struggles with daily life and can't stand for more than ten minutes. His family has taken turns caring for him, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. Rehabilitation is expected to take about 4 weeks. During that time Ethan won't be able to stand for more than ten minutes, 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: โ€ข Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $1,700 โ€ข Travel and lodging for the family: $490 โ€ข Pre-operative tests and imaging: $500 โ€ข Post-operative medication: $460 Thanks for reading all this.
due date
2026-04-16
bill type
Hospital invoice

Updates from Kylie

No updates yet. Supporters are notified when the owner posts one.

  • Christopher D. Snyder ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง ยท $50
  • Wondimu Hailu Gebremariam ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡น ยท $30
  • Silas N. Perry ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง ยท $15

    โ€œGod bless. Thought of Ethan all day after reading this. - Leedsโ€

  • Manasi N. Apte ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $5

    โ€œHappy to help. Thought of Ethan all day after reading this. - Mumbaiโ€

  • Diego Pedro Oliveira ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $11
  • Hiแบฟu Dao ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $20
  • Chidi Adewale Obi ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $50
  • Revathi B. Venkatesh ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $10

    โ€œHope things get better. Hope the April deadline works out. - Mumbaiโ€

  • Denise C. Richards ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $50

    โ€œAll the best. Thought of Ethan all day after reading this. - Los Angelesโ€

  • Quinn L. Spencer ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $5

    โ€œPraying for you. From Lowell with love.โ€

  • Intan Utami Siregar ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $20
  • Rafaล‚ Grabowski ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ยท $5

    โ€œFrom Gliwice with love. - Gliwiceโ€

  • Babar Junaid Kakar ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ ยท $75

    โ€œFrom my family to yours! - Quettaโ€

  • Karim Adel Nabulsi ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $37

    โ€œGod bless. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Albuquerqueโ€

  • Emma M. Hudson ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $5

    โ€œWish I could do more! - Torontoโ€

  • Tshepo Botha ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $25
  • Esteban Paredes ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $20

    โ€œKeep your head up. Only $20 but hope it helps. - Alcalรก de Henaresโ€

  • Rolando H. Castro ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ยท $100

    โ€œHope things get better - Cebu Cityโ€

  • Mubashir Hamza Zardari ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ ยท $100
  • YaฤŸmur Dilara TaลŸ ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $20

    โ€œBest of luck. - Istanbulโ€

Reviews

2.6(22 reviews)

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Questions & comments

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  • Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Ethan.

    • Kylie NelsonOwnerAnswerID verified

      Surgeon and anesthesia fees is $1,700 of it. Everything else is listed in the story and nothing outside that list comes out of this page. Ask me anything else.

  • Hope it all works out. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. We're a small family in Casablanca but we're thinking of you. All the best.

    • Can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near Newcastle.

      • Kylie NelsonOwnerAnswerID verified

        Sharing the link is the biggest thing. And if you know anything about surgeon and anesthesia fees, advice is welcome too. Good question.

    • Liรชn My DiepPhoto verified

      You're not alone, Kylie. Shared it with a few friends. After 23 years in nursing I know how hard it's to ask for anything. God bless

      • how is Ethan doing now?

        • Thanks for sharing this. Gave what I could, wish it was more. God bless.

          • Take care, Kylie. It takes guts to ask. Well done.

            • Stay strong. Hope the doctors have good news. Take care.

              • Sending love, Kylie. I hope things turn around soon. Love from Makati.

                • Keep going, Kylie. Your post was clear and honest. My cousin had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Love from Bahir Dar

                  • Gave what I could, wish it was more. Greetings from Lapu-Lapu.

                    • Hope you get there. We're a small family in Tamale but we're thinking of you. God bless.

                      $717.50 raised of $3,150

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