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Valve repair surgery for James: covering what insurance won't

James needs valve repair surgery at Geelong Community Hospital and the family is $3,950 short of the hospital's estimate.

🇦🇺 Australia3,432 views
Santiago Freeman
Email verified
Geelong
James was diagnosed with endometriosis requiring surgery in June. The surgeon at Geelong Community Hospital recommended valve repair surgery, and He is scheduled for August. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $5,750, and after what the government subsidy will pay we're still $3,950 short. my son has been in and out of Geelong Community Hospital since June. The doctors say endometriosis requiring surgery will get worse without valve repair surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $5,750 is more than we can find. While we wait, James struggles with daily life and can't look after the children alone. His family has taken turns caring for him, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. Rehabilitation is expected to take about 4 weeks. During that time James won't be able to look after the children alone, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $3,950 goes: • Travel and lodging for the family: $440 • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $2,800 • Physiotherapy sessions: $710 Thank you for reading my story. - Santiago
due date
2026-08-27
bill type
Hospital invoice
#surgery#hospital-bills#recovery#medical

Updates from Santiago

  1. Good news. Because of your gifts ($2,746 in total) the first invoice got paid this week. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  2. Quick update: $1,765 raised so far (45%). the first invoice got paid this week. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

  3. We're at 21% thanks to 22 of you. the first invoice got paid this week. More news soon. - Santiago

Donations

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    “Stay strong. I'm in Worcester, thinking of you. - Worcester”

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    “Keep your head up. Gave what I could this week. - Peoria”

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    “Wish I could do more. Thought of James all day after reading this. - Manila”

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    “Best of luck. From Adama with love. - Adama”

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    “All the best. Gave what I could this week. - Amsterdam”

  • Sachin E. Tandon 🇮🇳 · $50

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  • Teresita S. MacaraegID verified

    thinking of you and your family. Hope this works out for you. All the best.

    • Jihan Dinda Sutanto

      Wishing you peace, Santiago. Shared this with my family. Take care.

      • Jacques Fabrice Renard

        Rooting for you. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. I have a 15 year old who wants to send good wishes too.

        • Terry Jennings

          Sending strength. Wishing James a smooth procedure and a full recovery. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend

          • Joshua G. Ray

            Stay strong. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. Thinking of Geelong.

            $4,327.50 raised of $3,950

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