Greetings friends (and friends of friends, and acquaintances, and unmet fellow humans),
My name is Melissa, and my part in this story is a minimal one. I'm the partner of an extremely awesome fella named Ben, who was here in the U.S. of A visiting me, when his appendix rudely exploded. If it could have only waited 2-3 days, Ben would have been back in his lovely United Kingdom where he would have been treated at no cost. As it were, his appendix did unceremoniously attempt to kill him on American soil and now he is faced with a $70,000 medical bill. Including surgery time he was in the hospital for 36 hours. For reals. $70,000. And they didn't even give him a replacement appendix made out of gold-sheesh.
Let's address a few things out the gate
1) He did have travel health insurance, but it had recently expired and with only 72 hours remaining here, neither he nor I thought to re-up it.
2) We are in the midst of trying to negotiate the hell out of this bill. Statistically we will get this lowered, and I'm happy to share the results of that skirmish between us and the dastardly hospital.
Now, a few things about our maimed comrade in arms. He's a lovely, ridiculously witty human being with far too much movie trivia shoved into that gorgeous head. He's also someone who never asks for help and never wants to be a bother. Case in point, he would have rather politely died on my couch then be a trouble to me by making me take him to the ER. Good thing that I'm a stubborn asshole and I'm stronger than him. He's personally raised money for causes near and dear to his heart including prostate cancer and men's mental health. It's the norm for him to worry about others and to not worry about himself.
Most of us are swimming in debt and have massive budgetary issues so anything you throw his way would be greatly appreciated. Really. And if you can't, we get it. So here it is. Please help if you can.
