Kneed 4 Relief: A fundraising campaign
For my BTJ readers, you may have noticed a new development in the site’s design. In between the first and second posts, you will now find an advertisement for BetUS. They are an online sportsbook that lists hockey odds and lines among other things. Why am I mentioning this here? Well, BetUS has become our highest advertiser as of today and the proceeds from the BTJ ad sale are going towards something very close and dear to my heart.
About four months ago, I requested for approval for a medial meniscus transplant operation that I had hoped to have next summer. My insurance company denied my request arguing that the surgery was considered expiremental and they wouldn’t pay for it. I appealed two more times within BCBS and failed to overturn their denial. I then appealed to the Michigan board (an external review essentially). They too denied my request. So unless something miraculously changes, I have to raise $30,000 in the next 11 months so I can have a surgery I desperately need. As many of my readers know, I’ve had 9 knee surgeries and deal with chronic pain on a daily basis. I am not allowed to run, bike, swim, or even walk for exercise. I’m in constant pain and standing or walking for any length of time aggravates the knee. My surgeon, who is one of the first orthopedic surgeons to start performing this procedure over 21 years ago, believes that this surgery should reduce my pain by at least half of what it currently is. A reduction in pain by that much will hopefully prevent me from being in serious pain after shopping at the mall or standing at a UM football game. I will most likely never be able to run, but I would love to walk and stand without pain and maybe someday be able to swim or bike or use the elliptical with little pain.
Ok, so why am I telling you all of this? Well, I have started a fundraising campaign called Kneed 4 Relief to raise enough money to have my surgery by next summer. BetUS‘ advertising deal with BTJ gave the Kneed 4 Relief campaign a $500 start and is very much appreciated.
I am not someone who wants to ask for donations from my wonderful BTJ readers, but if anyone has even $5 that they could donate using the PayPal button below, I would be incredibly appreciative. I have created a page up top called Kneed 4 Relief and all of my donor supporters will be recognized there. If you have any questions about this campaign, my knee, the surgery, etc, I am more than happy to talk to you via email.
As this campaign rolls on, you will likely see more posts about it on BTJ. I hope to eventually put on an auction (whether it’s online or not still needs to be determined) where there should be numerous Red Wings items available so I will definitely make sure you all are aware of it when the plans have been cemented. I am also working on a blog just for the Kneed 4 Relief campaign, but it’s not ready just yet.
Thanks again to BetUS and to the BTJ readers for being understanding about why I decided to insert an advertisement in between the first two blog posts.
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9 Responses to “Kneed 4 Relief: A fundraising campaign”
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July 19th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Sorry to hear about the need for surgery. Good luck with the money raising; I’ll post a comment at A2Y about it
July 20th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Well, I chipped in my contribution!
My sister had knee surgery a few years ago, and will probably need to have the other one operated on at some point as well. Fortunately it went very well for her and she has a lot more mobility and quality of life - I hope you have the same good outcome.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I’m hoping you can uncover some facility that will perform the operation without the cash or at a reasonably reduced rate. Amid all the clowning around we do on these sites we don’t forget what’s really important in our lives. Good luck.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Osrt- Thanks for your support and mentioning it in the A2Y comment thread!
Baroque- I hope so too! Thanks!
rwbill- Thank you for your help and I’m trying to find an organization that might help with the costs, but most seem to be for either life-threatening illnesses and/or people with no money. Unfortunately for my situation, my family has “money” but not enough to pay for the surgery by any stretch of the imagination.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Really proves how jacked up our insurance system is. Sounds like this would be a much needed operation. I’m hoping that you raise the funds needed to reduce the pain in your life.
http://vultair.wordpress.com/
July 30th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Hi Christy…sorry I am a little late on this. I remembered you said the pain was getting worse but I had no idea it was this bad or would cost this much. I will mention it on my blog and next podcast on Sunday Night surely. I will even put a small bit on the blog for the podcast as well. Anything I can do to help.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am
I feel like you should be in the movie Sicko. Any personal politics aside, it’s ridiculous how health care treats people in the US much of the time.
Hopefully you raise the money or are somehow able to get the surgery you need!
August 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
Vultair- Thanks for the encouragement! And while the insurance had been previously great (I’ve had easily $250,000+ covered by insurance over the last 5 years), it’s frustrating when they deny a surgery you really do need to have a decent quality of life healthwise.
Chris- I appreciate your support!! Thank you!
Steve- Yeah, health insurance is a frustrating topic. People tell me that I should move to Canada to get the surgery, but then you have to wait like 9 months just to have the surgery because there are so many people waiting. So it’s kind of messed up in some way wherever you go…I guess that’s life. Thanks for the encouragement!
August 1st, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Hello Christy!
I heard about your story through Chris, and donated (albeit a small amount).
I have been left with chronic pain for the past 4 years after I almost died in a car accident, so i KNOW how badly you want to relieve “some” of your pain, if not all.
I wish you all the best!
Gianna