Hello. I am Jenny Maldonado. I am an honest, tax-paying nurse who just also happens to also be morbidly obese with a BMI of about 48. I have struggled with my weight my entire life. At 45, I went on a diet and lost 110 pounds in a year and kept it off over a year. Last June 2021, my daughter was murdered and son diagnosed with a brain tumor. I started comfort eating and put back half of the weight I'd lost. Being the sole income in the family, I just worked, ate, and slept. My original weight was 412, I had gotten down to 286, and am now back at 350. I started having significant issues when I had a hysterectomy recently, only to find out that I have a Type 3 para esophageal hernia. My only surgical option that can possibly help includes hernia repair with gastric bypass.
You may wonder why my insurance, which is Aetna, will not pay. I have the most expensive plan available. Well, according to them, on a phone call today, bariatric surgery is excluded on my plan.
I cannot explain that. I told them on the phone that I must have the surgery because, well, my stomach is in my throat.
I am currently out on medical leave and have been since the beginning of February. My funds are severely limited, and I am paying COBRA insurance of $511/month. I need this surgery, not because I want to be skinny, but because I risk the chance of my other abdominal organs going through the hernia into my chest.
I learned about Spotfund on Twitter and feel it is a better platform for me. I would appreciate any and all donations and will guarantee all funds will specifically be used toward my surgical process.
And maybe one day, I won't be that one 350 pound nurse anymore. Wish me luck.
