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Surgery fund for Charlotte: spinal decompression surgery in Durham

A scheduled spinal decompression surgery in September is out of reach without help covering $5,200 of the cost.

🇺🇸 United States2,286 views
Valentina M. Neal
Email verified
Durham
Charlotte was diagnosed with a cleft palate needing repair in June. The surgeon at Saint Catherine Hospital recommended spinal decompression surgery, and She is scheduled for September. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $8,750, and after what my employer's plan will pay we're still $5,200 short. my mother has been in and out of Saint Catherine Hospital since June. The doctors say a cleft palate needing repair will get worse without spinal decompression surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $8,750 is more than we can find. While we wait, Charlotte struggles with daily life and can't climb stairs. Her family has taken turns caring for her, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. The recovery period is expected to take about 8 weeks. During that time Charlotte won't be able to climb stairs, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $5,200 goes: • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $3,750 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $420 • Travel and lodging for the family: $430 • Physiotherapy sessions: $600 Ask me anything below before you decide. I'd rather you were sure. - Valentina
due date
2026-09-19
bill type
Hospital invoice

Updates from Valentina

  1. We're at 31% thanks to 20 of you. I met with the hospital and confirmed the amounts. More news soon.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($1,294 in total) the plan for surgeon and anesthesia fees is now scheduled. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  3. Good news. Because of your gifts ($675 in total) I made the first payment toward physiotherapy sessions. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  • Hoa Hà Lieu 🇻🇳 · $100
  • Roberto K. Acosta 🇺🇸 · $20
  • Shivam Kashyap 🇮🇳 · $5
  • Remedios T. Reyes 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇺🇦 · $100
  • Umar Irfan Mughal 🇵🇰 · $25
  • Yamini L. Anand 🇮🇳 · $10

    “God bless. Thought of Charlotte all day after reading this. - Pune”

  • Manon Dupont 🇫🇷 · $10
  • Yana Oksana Makarov 🇺🇦 · $25
  • Vaibhav M. Solanki 🇮🇳 · $38.50
  • Ishara Yashodha Seneviratne 🇱🇰 · $10
  • Rosa K. Paredes 🇺🇸 · $30

    “Hang in there. Hope the September deadline works out. - Lafayette”

  • Carlos M. Fernández 🇲🇽 · $25
  • Ximena H. Bravo 🇺🇸 · $75
  • Eren Tolga Özer 🇹🇷 · $10

    “All the best. My cousin told me about this one. - Antalya”

  • Priscilla Araba Osei 🇬🇭 · $250
  • Isabella C. Randolph 🇺🇸 · $75
  • Abril H. Lara 🇺🇸 · $8

    “Take care of yourselves. Thought of Charlotte all day after reading this. - Fresno”

  • Koji Shibata 🇯🇵 · $50
  • Tejaswini E. Rao 🇮🇳 · $250

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  • Hope it all works out, Valentina. Get well soon. God bless.

    • Thinking of you and your family, Valentina. Hope this works out for you. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend.

      • Thinking of you and your family, Valentina. Looking forward to the next update. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. Take care.

        • Harsh G. OberoiPhoto verified

          Best of luck. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. Greetings from Rohini.

          • Hope things get better soon, Valentina. Hope this works out for you. I went through something like this 12 years ago and strangers helped me out. Thinking of Durham.

            • You're not alone, Valentina. Gave what I could, wish it was more. We're a small family in Lagos but we're thinking of you.

              • hang in there, Valentina. Shared this with my family. Don't give up. Love from Alicante.

                • I hope things turn around soon. We're a small family in Parma but we're thinking of you. Greetings from Parma

                  • I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. Greetings from Mansoura.

                    • It takes guts to ask. Well done. My father had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. God bless

                      • Thinking of you, Valentina. Shared it with a few friends. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money.

                        • Thinking of you, Valentina. Hope you get there. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry

                          • sending strength, Valentina. Look after yourselves too, caregivers need rest. My husband and I read this together. Take care

                            • Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Put this on a community board in Hawassa this morning. All the best

                              • So sorry you're going through this. I hope things turn around soon. My father had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. God bless

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