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

After osteoarthritis in the right knee, Shinji was cleared for spinal decompression surgery, but the bill is more than we can manage.

🇯🇵 Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan2,235 views
Kenji Kenta Ogawa
Email verified
Shinjuku
Shinji was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the right knee in October. The surgeon at Shinjuku University Hospital recommended spinal decompression surgery, and He is scheduled for December. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $8,000, and after what my insurance will pay we're still $6,000 short. my husband has been in and out of Shinjuku University Hospital since October. The doctors say osteoarthritis in the right knee will get worse without spinal decompression surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $8,000 is more than we can find. While we wait, Shinji 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 12 weeks. During that time Shinji 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 $6,000 goes: • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $2,800 • Hospital stay (5 nights): $2,300 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $210 • Post-operative medication: $130 • Physiotherapy sessions: $390 • Travel and lodging for the family: $170 Please ask me anything in the questions section. I'll answer honestly and quickly.
due date
2026-01-22
bill type
Hospital invoice
#surgery#hospital-bills#recovery#medical

Updates from Kenji

  1. Small update. $689 so far, the first invoice got paid this week.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($500 in total) the first invoice got paid this week. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  3. Update from Shinjuku: the first invoice got paid this week. We're at 2% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

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    “Praying for you. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Timișoara”

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    “You got this. Hope the January deadline works out. - Jakarta Barat”

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    “Hope things get better. Thought of Shinji all day after reading this. - Philadelphia”

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    “Best of luck. Been where you're, it gets better. - Cork”

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  • Yonas Gebre Zewdie

    So sorry you're going through this. Looking forward to the next update. Thinking of Shinjuku

    • Zubair Zeeshan Yousafzai

      Hope things get better soon, Kenji. Hope you get there. Love from Auckland.

      • Zahra Aziz

        Hope things get better soon, Kenji. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. Thinking of Shinjuku.

        • Janet Nichols

          Thinking of you and your family, Kenji. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. I have a 7 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Blessings

          • Kamran Rashid Bhatti

            Wishing you peace. Looking forward to the next update. I'll check back for the next update. Greetings from Kumasi.

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