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

A scheduled valve repair surgery in October is out of reach without help covering $3,500 of the cost.

Anywhere in the world1,788 views
Shawn B. McCoy
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Albany
In September I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. My surgeon at Albany University Hospital recommended valve repair surgery, and I have been placed on the schedule for October. The hospital's financial office gave me a written estimate of $5,000, and after what my insurance will pay, I'm still $3,500 short. Doctors at Albany University Hospital told me a benign brain tumor will get worse without valve repair surgery. I work as a farm laborer, and I have saved what I can, but the estimate of $5,000 is far beyond what I've. Until the surgery I can't work full days, and my hours as a farm laborer have already been cut. Every week of waiting means more pain and a bigger risk. Rehabilitation is expected to take about 12 weeks. I'll not be able to stand for more than ten minutes 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 $3,500 goes: • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $630 • Post-operative medication: $430 • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $1,950 • Travel and lodging for the family: $490 Thank you so much.
due date
2026-11-19
bill type
Hospital invoice
#surgery#hospital-bills#recovery#medical

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  • Zubby Chukwuemeka Falana 🇳🇬 · $10
  • Brenda Norwood 🇺🇸 · $10

    “Thought of Shawn all day after reading this. - San Diego”

  • Manfred Lehmann 🇩🇪 · $10

    “Rooting for you. Been where you're, it gets better. - Dortmund”

  • Emmanuel H. Castro 🇵🇭 · $30

    “Best of luck. Thought of Shawn all day after reading this. - Pasig”

  • Milon Asif Hasan 🇧🇩 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $5
  • André Paulo Monteiro 🇧🇷 · $75

    “Rooting for you. Please keep us posted. - Vitória da Conquista”

  • Janet Chebet Mugisha 🇰🇪 · $75
  • João Maurício Mendes 🇧🇷 · $50

    “From my family to yours. Gave what I could this week. - Maringá”

  • Samuel C. Vasquez 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Hugo S. Cortés 🇲🇽 · $10

    “Praying for you. Thought of Shawn all day after reading this.”

  • Nenita S. Uy 🇵🇭 · $42
  • Jepkoech Eunice Kyagulanyi 🇺🇬 · $20

    “From my family to yours. I'm in Mukono, thinking of you.”

  • Tayyaba Bhatti 🇵🇰 · $5

    “Praying for you. Saw your post and had to give. - Sukkur”

  • Anonymous 🇧🇩 · $25

    “Good luck. My brother told me about this one. - Gazipur”

  • Irma Dian Lestari 🇮🇩 · $25
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  • Anonymous 🇲🇽 · $200

    “All the best. My colleague told me about this one. - Xalapa”

  • Anonymous 🇯🇲 · $10

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  • Harper FosterPhoto verified

    Hope things get better soon, Shawn. This could happen to any of us. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money.

    • Ibrahim Majid HamidID verified

      Wishing you peace, Shawn. Your post was clear and honest. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day

      • Kamrul Dipu Chatterjee

        Hope things get better soon, Shawn. Shared this with my family. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it.

        • Hande Esra Çakır

          Wishing you the best, Shawn. Hope the treatment goes smoothly and recovery is quick. Love from Faisalabad

          • Dusit Suthep Sukhum

            Wishing you peace, Shawn. Your post was clear and honest. Don't be hard on yourself for asking.

            • Ayaan R. Yadav

              Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Thinking of Albany

              • Swapnil E. Pawar

                Sending good thoughts, Shawn. Get well soon. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. Thinking of Albany.

                • José S. Bravo

                  So sorry you're going through this, Shawn. Hope you get there. Love from Bogor

                  • Marlene Mathilda Schmitt

                    praying for you. Hope you get there. I hope October is when things finally get easier. Take care.

                    • Atieno Atieno Urassa

                      Stay strong, Shawn. Shared this with my family. Greetings from Warangal

                      • Juliana Edilene Bastos

                        Wishing you peace, Shawn. Gave what I could, wish it was more. I have a 14 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Greetings from Alcalá de Henares.

                        • Abhishek W. GurjarPhoto verified

                          Thinking of you, Shawn. Shared it with a few friends. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double.

                          $2,913.50 raised of $3,500

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