Bills & expensesMedical & healthCritical
Spinal decompression surgery for Francois: covering what insurance won't
Francois needs spinal decompression surgery at Johannesburg Community Hospital and the family is $750 short of the hospital's estimate.
🇿🇦 South Africa970 views
Francois was diagnosed with a deviated septum causing chronic infections in July. The surgeon at Johannesburg Community Hospital recommended spinal decompression surgery, and He is scheduled for September. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $940, and after what my employer's plan will pay we're still $750 short.
my father has been in and out of Johannesburg Community Hospital since July. The doctors say a deviated septum causing chronic infections will get worse without spinal decompression surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $940 is more than we can find.
While we wait, Francois 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.
Recovery is expected to take about 7 weeks. During that time Francois 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 $750 goes:
• Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $520
• Physiotherapy sessions: $140
• Travel and lodging for the family: $90
I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to.
- Johan
- due date
- 2026-09-14
- bill type
- Hospital invoice
Updates from Johan
No updates yet. Supporters are notified when the owner posts one.
- Chitra R. Thevar 🇮🇳 · $50
“Good luck. Hope the October deadline works out. - Nizamabad”
- Aarav Rajput 🇮🇳 · $44
- Daniel Gabriel Moraes 🇧🇷 · $15
“Hang in there. Only $15 but hope it helps. - Contagem”
- Obinna Ibrahim Balogun 🇳🇬 · $20
- Ana Eliane Andrade 🇧🇷 · $100
- Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $20
- Ali Osama Siddiqui 🇪🇬 · $20
- Hadi Satria Salim 🇮🇩 · $30
“Rooting for you. Only $30 but hope it helps. - Surabaya”
- Adewale Uchenna Hassan 🇳🇬 · $5
“Thought of Francois all day after reading this. - Lagos”
- Isabelle Royer 🇨🇦 · $91
- Inés W. Torres 🇪🇸 · $10
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Praying for you, Johan. Hope you get there. Please keep us posted. Blessings.
Your post was clear and honest. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money. Greetings from Auckland.
praying for you. Hope you get there. My brother had a similar thing happen so this one hit home
Thanks for sharing this, Johan. Your post was clear and honest. It's not much but it's yours. Greetings from Surabaya.
Sending strength, Johan. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. I have a 8 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Thinking of Johannesburg.
Best of luck. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. Put this on a community board in Utrecht this morning.
good luck, Johan. Get well soon.
hang in there, Johan. Hope this works out for you.
Thanks for sharing this, Johan. Shared it with a few friends. Don't give up.
So sorry you're going through this. I hope things turn around soon. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. All the best.
Wishing you peace, Johan. Look after yourselves too, caregivers need rest. Please keep us posted. Blessings.
hope the doctors have good news. Love from Addis Ababa.
Praying for you. Wishing Francois a smooth procedure and a full recovery. Greetings from Auckland
hope it all works out, Johan. Your post was clear and honest. It's not much but it's yours. Blessings.
Rooting for you, Johan. Looking forward to the next update. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Greetings from Quetta.
Wishing Francois a smooth procedure and a full recovery. I went through something like this 4 years ago and strangers helped me out.
I hope things turn around soon. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Greetings from Dhaka.
Wishing you peace. Wishing Francois a smooth procedure and a full recovery. Put this on a community board in Cebu City this morning. Love from Cebu City.
Best of luck, Johan. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Thinking of Johannesburg.
Thinking of you and your family, Johan. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry.
Sending good thoughts, Johan. It takes guts to ask. Well done. I have a 14 year old who wants to send good wishes too. All the best
Thinking of you. It takes guts to ask. Well done. My husband and I read this together. Blessings.
Stay strong, Johan. Get well soon. Blessings.
take care, Johan. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. God bless
Sending good thoughts, Johan. I hope things turn around soon. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Blessings.
Wishing you the best, Johan. Look after yourselves too, caregivers need rest. Don't give up. Love from Bristol
Thinking of you and your family, Johan. Shared it with a few friends
Thinking of you, Johan. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. Take care.
hope things get better soon, Johan. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. We're a small family in Boulogne-Billancourt but we're thinking of you.
sending strength, Johan. Hope you get there. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Blessings.
Rooting for you, Johan. Gave what I could, wish it was more. My husband and I read this together
Your post was clear and honest. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Love from Hamilton.