HELP BILL HEAL AFTER EMERGENCY INTESTINAL SURGERY

A Elementary School Teacher in Crisis, Far From Home

About Me

My name is Bill, and I am a Public School teacher in Bermuda.
I have dedicated my life to serving children, teaching, uplifting, and being a steady presence in the classroom every day.

But today, I find myself in a place I never expected—unable to work, far from home, recovering from emergency intestinal surgery, and facing financial burdens far beyond my ability to manage alone.

Why I Came to the Dominican Republic

On October 26, I traveled to the Dominican Republic to check on and support my wife, who suffers from a rare blood condition called Essential Thrombocythemia.
My intention was simply to care for her for a week, using five sick/stress days from work.

But instead, I was the one who ended up in a life-threatening emergency.

The Emergency That Changed Everything

On October 29, I began experiencing severe pain in my stomach and belly button.
What I thought was just “gas” turned out to be something far more dangerous—a hernia that had swallowed part of my small intestine.

Doctors rushed to tell me I needed emergency surgery immediately.

My wife, a sergeant in the Dominican Air Force, brought me to the Military Hospital of the Air Force at San Isidro, where I underwent surgery on October 30.
Part of my small intestine had already turned black, and they had to remove a section to save my life.

Two Surgeries, Two Weeks in the Hospital, and No Food or Water

I remained hospitalized for over two weeks.
For the first six days, I was not allowed to eat or drink anything—not even water.
I experienced hallucinations, strange dreams, and moments of deep weakness.

When the doctor told me I could have “two fingers” of water, it felt like a miracle.

On November 8, I needed a second surgery because I was “leaking” internally.
This helped fix the complication, but it extended my recovery and my hospital stay.

Stranded Abroad Without Pay

The day I was supposed to return to Bermuda, I was still hospitalized and under medication.
I missed the chance to change my flight and was unable to return.

My employer gives only eight sick days.
They graciously granted me three more days to the five, but as of November 20, they stopped paying me because I exceeded the allowed days, through no fault of my own.

Since then, I’ve had no income, and I’m still unable to work.

Mounting Expenses

Even though my insurance company in Bermuda is willing to help, they were unable to reach the hospital directly, as the bill is under my wife’s name due to her military status.

In the meantime, I’ve had to pay out of pocket for:

• Medications

• Blood work

• Laboratory analysis

• Dressing and wound supplies

• Follow-up appointments

• Transportation

• Daily living expenses while stuck abroad

I am currently discharged but still not medically cleared to travel.

My Wife’s Sacrifice

The irony is painful: I came to help her, but she ended up caring for me.

She slept in the hospital for the first three nights.
She drove the one-hour trip every day for over two weeks to wash me, support me, and speak with doctors.
She was even docked two days of pay for helping me when she couldn’t find someone to cover her shift.

Since being discharged, she has cleaned my wounds every day and taken care of me without complaint.

 The Long Road Home

• Nov 20: Too much drainage—staples and tube stayed in

• Nov 25: Staples removed, drainage tube removed

• Dec 2: Final evaluation scheduled

• Still awaiting clearance to fly back to Bermuda

• Still unable to work

• Still without income

What was meant to be a one-week trip has now become over a month and counting.

My Goal: $18,000

This will help cover:

• Remaining hospital bill

• Medications

• Second surgery costs

• Travel expenses to return to Bermuda

• Living expenses during recovery

• Support until I am medically cleared to resume work

How You Can Help

I am humbly asking for any assistance you can provide.
A gift of any size—$5, $20, $50 or more—helps me take one step closer to recovery and toward home.

If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this campaign.
Your compassion means more than you know.

Thank You

Thank you for reading my story.
Thank you for your compassion.
And thank you for helping me heal—physically, emotionally, and financially.

Your kindness will help bring me home.