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

Tomás needs spinal decompression surgery at San Antonio Community Hospital and the family is $6,400 short of the hospital's estimate.

🇺🇸 United States6,236 views
Tomás B. Paredes
Email verified
San Antonio
In August I was diagnosed with an aortic valve defect. My surgeon at San Antonio Community Hospital recommended spinal decompression surgery, and I have been placed on the schedule for October. The hospital's financial office gave me a written estimate of $12,750, and after what the public health scheme will pay, I'm still $6,400 short. Doctors at San Antonio Community Hospital told me an aortic valve defect will get worse without spinal decompression surgery. I work as a restaurant cook, and I have saved what I can, but the estimate of $12,750 is far beyond what I've. Until the surgery I can't work full days, and my hours as a restaurant cook have already been cut. Every week of waiting means more pain and a bigger risk. Rehabilitation is expected to take about 6 weeks. I'll not be able to lift anything heavy 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 $6,400 goes: • Travel and lodging for the family: $155 • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $1,850 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $660 • Physiotherapy sessions: $400 • Hospital stay (3 nights): $3,335 Thanks for being kind about this.
due date
2026-10-07
bill type
Hospital invoice
#surgery#hospital-bills#recovery#medical

Updates from Tomás

  1. Quick update: $4,496 raised so far (70%). we've started the first stage. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($3,604 in total) the first invoice got paid this week. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  3. 34% there. I made the first payment toward travel and lodging for the family. Thank you.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Onyango Peter Tumusiime 🇰🇪 · $100
  • Francois T. Kruger 🇿🇦 · $250

    “Praying for you. Please keep us posted. - Johannesburg”

  • Kaito Shun Ogawa 🇯🇵 · $10

    “Stay strong - Nagoya”

  • Megan S. Fourie 🇿🇦 · $200
  • Shapla Priya Mia 🇧🇩 · $25

    “All the best. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Dhaka”

  • Serhiy Roman Soloviev 🇺🇦 · $10
  • Dinda Siti Sitompul 🇮🇩 · $100
  • Chhaya P. Jain 🇮🇳 · $100
  • Otávio Roberto Monteiro 🇧🇷 · $50

    “Take care of yourselves. Thought of Tomás all day after reading this.”

  • Hadley Walsh 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Payal C. Agarwal 🇮🇳 · $10
  • Clement Armah 🇬🇭 · $250
  • Christian K. Abad 🇵🇭 · $50

    “Blessings. From Angeles with love.”

  • Mia Houston 🇺🇸 · $5
  • Amparo N. Campos 🇲🇽 · $25
  • Yoga Zulkifli Lestari 🇮🇩 · $5

    “Only $5 but hope it helps. - Bandung”

  • Hannah Holmes 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Isaiah Ward 🇺🇸 · $34
  • Josefina S. Marquez 🇵🇭 · $15

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Questions & comments

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  • Varsha G. BabuQuestion

    what's already covered and what's the $6,400 for?

    • Tomás B. ParedesOwnerAnswer

      It's all in the list in the story. travel and lodging for the family is the big one at $155, I'll post a receipt when it's paid. Fair thing to want to know.

  • Sven Rolf Martinsson

    you're not alone, Tomás. Look after yourselves too, caregivers need rest. Put this on a community board in Radom this morning. Thinking of San Antonio.

    • Galina NikolaevQuestion

      Is there anything that isn't money that would help Tomás?

      • Tomás B. ParedesOwnerAnswer

        Thank you. If you're in San Antonio I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. Ask me anything else.

    • Parvathi F. Thevar

      Good luck, Tomás. Your post was clear and honest. Thinking of San Antonio

      • Annelie K. CelePhoto verified

        you're not alone. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

        • Thomas Marcel SimonQuestion

          how is Tomás doing now?

          • Alice Angela Donati

            Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Greetings from Tokyo

            • Joko Nasution

              Sending strength, Tomás. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. All the best.

              • Milon Rakib SahaID verified

                Best of luck. Shared it with a few friends. It's not much but it's yours. Greetings from Madrid

                $6,840.50 raised of $6,400

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