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Surgery fund for Roberta: palate reconstruction surgery in Verona

After a large ovarian cyst, Roberta was cleared for palate reconstruction surgery, but the bill is more than we can manage.

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Roberta Valentina Grasso
Email verified
Verona
In July I was diagnosed with a large ovarian cyst. My surgeon at Saint Joseph Hospital recommended palate reconstruction surgery, and I have been placed on the schedule for September. The hospital's financial office gave me a written estimate of $8,250, and after what our health plan will pay, I'm still $5,750 short. Doctors at Saint Joseph Hospital told me a large ovarian cyst will get worse without palate reconstruction surgery. I work as a call-centre agent, and I have saved what I can, but the estimate of $8,250 is far beyond what I've. Until the surgery I can't work full days, and my hours as a call-centre agent have already been cut. Every week of waiting means more pain and a bigger risk. Rehabilitation is expected to take about 5 weeks. I'll not be able to climb stairs during that time, so this has become a financial emergency as well as a medical one. The money goes straight to the treatment bills, and I'll share the invoices as they're paid so you can see exactly what your gift did. Where the $5,750 goes: • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $2,350 • Hospital stay (3 nights): $2,250 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $400 • Post-operative medication: $180 • Physiotherapy sessions: $260 • Travel and lodging for the family: $310 Thank you for reading my story. - Roberta
due date
2026-10-02
bill type
Hospital invoice

Updates from Roberta

  1. Thank you all. We're at 10% now ($594). I'm honestly stunned. I met with the hospital and confirmed the amounts.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($231 in total) the plan for physiotherapy sessions is now scheduled. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  • Carla Ginevra Colombo 🇮🇹 · $30
  • Mukesh F. Bhatia 🇮🇳 · $20
  • Josiah F. Johnson 🇺🇸 · $5
  • Kunal H. Patel 🇮🇳 · $32
  • Juan J. López 🇲🇽 · $200
  • Favour Nneka Falana 🇳🇬 · $4.50
  • Yupin Kulap Chanthara 🇹🇭 · $50
  • Sarah Lambert 🇬🇧 · $50
  • Kalpana Sangita Dangol 🇳🇵 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $250

    “Keep your head up. From Austin with love. - Austin”

  • Vishal R. Gupta 🇮🇳 · $10
  • Isaiah Figueroa 🇺🇸 · $15
  • Sandeep S. Seth 🇮🇳 · $5
  • Katherine R. Long 🇺🇸 · $59

    “Hang in there. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Flint”

  • Alexandre Vinícius Barbosa 🇧🇷 · $18
  • Simone Bruna Lopes 🇧🇷 · $5
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇲🇽 · $100
  • Cristina Andreea Dinu 🇷🇴 · $50

    “Stay strong. Shared with friends too. - Cluj-Napoca”

  • Wafula Wafula Odhiambo 🇰🇪 · $25

    “Thinking of you. Thought of Roberta all day after reading this. - Kasarani”

Reviews

3.3(6 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Audrey Mejia🇬🇧Verified helper
    Really cared about my situation

    Couldn't have asked for better support. They listened carefully, understood my situation deeply, and provided thoughtful advice that actually worked. Thank you so much.

  • Ziad Bilal Hamdan🇩🇪Verified donor
    Helped when no one else could

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Habib Tareq Kabir🇮🇳Verified helper
    Genuine person with a big heart

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Pratik J. Naik🇮🇳Verified donor
    Patient and understanding

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

  • Cynthia P. Hill🇬🇧Verified helper
    Professional and kind

    Couldn't have asked for better support. They listened carefully, understood my situation deeply, and provided thoughtful advice that actually worked. Thank you so much.

  • Natalia Boyd🇨🇦Verified helper
    Very responsive and caring

    I was nervous about reaching out, but this person made me feel comfortable and supported from the very first interaction. Their help was invaluable.

Questions & comments

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  • Sending good thoughts, Roberta. Shared this with my family. Don't give up. Thinking of Verona

    • Stay strong. Hope the doctors have good news. Sent it to 10 people at work. Blessings!

      • Wishing you the best, Roberta. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Don't be hard on yourself for asking.

        • Keep going, Roberta. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Love from Cairo.

          • Wishing Roberta a smooth procedure and a full recovery. Don't be hard on yourself for asking.

            • you're not alone, Roberta. Get well soon. My mother had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. All the best.

              • best of luck. Hope you get there. Put this on a community board in Manila this morning

                • wishing you the best, Roberta. Gave what I could, wish it was more. My father had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. All the best

                  • Thinking of you and your family. Shared this with my family. My husband and I read this together. Love from Obuasi!

                    • Rooting for you. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. Blessings

                      • I hope things turn around soon. Please keep us posted. Love from Vadodara

                        • Good luck, Roberta. This could happen to any of us. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Take care

                          • Keep going. It takes guts to ask. Well done. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like. Love from Rohini

                            • I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. We're a small family in Rockford but we're thinking of you. Thinking of Verona

                              • Hope things get better soon, Roberta. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. I hope September is when things finally get easier. Thinking of Verona.

                                • Praying for you, Roberta. Looking forward to the next update. I went through something like this 3 years ago and strangers helped me out.

                                  • Thanks for sharing this, Roberta. Looking forward to the next update. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Greetings from Malang.

                                    • Sending good thoughts, Roberta. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Love from Juazeiro do Norte

                                      • thanks for sharing this, Roberta. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it

                                        • You're not alone, Roberta. Get well soon. Love from Minneapolis

                                          • Hang in there. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. Thinking of Verona.

                                            • Wishing you the best. Your post was clear and honest. My father had a similar thing happen so this one hit home.

                                              • Sending strength. I work in healthcare and wanted you to know people are on your side. Love from Oakland.

                                                • sending strength, Roberta. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier.

                                                  • sending strength, Roberta. Hope this works out for you. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like. Blessings.

                                                    • So sorry you're going through this, Roberta. Hope the doctors have good news. Take care.

                                                      • Rooting for you, Roberta. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. God bless.

                                                        $1,557.50 raised of $5,750

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