Bills & expensesMedical & health
Surgery fund for Francois: spinal decompression surgery in East London
A scheduled spinal decompression surgery in March is out of reach without help covering $2,050 of the cost.
🇿🇦 South Africa1,140 views
In December I was diagnosed with a cleft palate needing repair. My surgeon at East London Community Hospital recommended spinal decompression surgery, and I have been placed on the schedule for March. The hospital's financial office gave me a written estimate of $2,550, and after what the government subsidy will pay, I'm still $2,050 short.
Doctors at East London Community Hospital told me a cleft palate needing repair will get worse without spinal decompression surgery. I work as a warehouse packer, and I have saved what I can, but the estimate of $2,550 is far beyond what I've.
Until the surgery I can't work full days, and my hours as a warehouse packer have already been cut. Every week of waiting means more pain and a bigger risk.
Recovery is expected to take about 6 weeks. I'll not be able to drive 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 $2,050 goes:
• Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $790
• Hospital stay (5 nights): $810
• Pre-operative tests and imaging: $125
• Post-operative medication: $55
• Physiotherapy sessions: $175
• Travel and lodging for the family: $95
I hope life is good to you.
- Francois
- due date
- 2026-03-16
- bill type
- Hospital invoice
Updates from Francois
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- Suresh S. Jat 🇮🇳 · $250
- Koen Ruben Vos 🇳🇱 · $7
“Wishing you the best! - Nijmegen”
- Naveed Shoaib Butt 🇵🇰 · $10
“Rooting for you. My colleague told me about this one. - Islamabad”
- Maina John Bakari 🇰🇪 · $50
- Audrey Padilla 🇳🇿 · $20
- Bogdana Halyna Kovalenko 🇺🇦 · $30
- Rochelle G. Richards 🇯🇲 · $100
- Anonymous 🇮🇹 · $20
- Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $100
- Ömer Gökhan Taş 🇹🇷 · $20
- Uchenna Tunde Oyelaran 🇳🇬 · $5
“All the best. Thought of Francois all day after reading this.”
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Keep going, Francois. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Blessings.
Wishing Francois a smooth procedure and a full recovery. God bless.
Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Francois.
The list at the bottom is the whole picture. surgeon and anesthesia fees is the biggest at $790. I'll keep the page updated.
sending strength, Francois. Hope this works out for you. I have a 11 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Love from Miami.
is there anything that isn't money that would help Francois?
Thank you. If you're in East London I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. Ask me anything else.
Rooting for you, Francois. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. We're a small family in Kisumu but we're thinking of you. All the best.
Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Love from Dehiwala.
Good luck. Hope you get there. I have a 6 year old who wants to send good wishes too.