For those of you that don't know, I've recently acquired a lovely little hernia (an indirect inguinal hernia, for those of you in the know).

A hernia, for those of you that don't know, is more or less having your guts spill out of the abdominal cavity through a week spot in the abdominal wall. This causes a painful bulge in the flesh of the abdomen, most often around the groin as the intestines poke out of the hole. Hernias are USUALLY caused by trying to pick up something too heavy, but believe it or not, can be caused by something as trivial as coughing or breathing too deeply. I got mine by.. :gasp: getting into bed and rolling onto my side.

Hernias are painful under the best of circumstances, but they all have the potential to pinch off and 'strangulate' a loop of intestine, becoming agonizingly painful and even fatal. Lastly, hernias don't heal on their own 97% of the time. They need surgery to fix. Now, here is the shameless part of this whole thing. I have no insurance. In my initial visit to the hospital, in which I recieved several X-Rays and even a CAT scan (the hernia is on the right side, which is where the appendix is, which is an entirely more dangerous ball of wax), I racked up $300, and got a prescription and a referral. Another $30 got me this bottle of wonderful little pills that make the world fuzzy and happy again. The doctor I was referred to charged me another $200 to tell me I needed surgery, which was going to run me $1000 just for him to do it.

Running total so far; $1,530.

But that's not all. The hospital is also going to charge me for the surgery (which will be performed at the hospital).. so I get to pay nurses, an anesthesiologist, buy my very own mesh hernia plug and stitches, and god knows what else. And this particular hospital is, according to the financial/billing lady I talked to, is EXPENSIVE, so I'm probably looking at another two to five thousand dollars right there. Which brings me to at the very least $3,000.

I'm a poor penguin. I'm still struggling to pay for my computer, and I bought it back in 2000! Anybody that knows me knows that I'm not the type to ask for handouts, but at this point, I am desperate. I'm asking for donations to help me dig myself out of this hole that's opened up below me and sucked me into it. I'm not expecting anything mind you, but every last little bit will help immensely, and be immensely appreciated. I'll definately have to do something for anybody that helps. I'm not threatening to kill a bunny, but I hope that won't stop people;