Where to begin? I came to Costa Rica at the beginning of April for surgery I could not afford in the United States, even with medical insurance (the deductible was more than surgery in CR). I have Lupus and Scleroderma which has greatly compromised my healing. I have two wounds that will not heal, one is 6 inches x 3 inches triangular and so deep I can see my muscles and tendon and veins. The doctors here have tried everything to help, but my body is simply not cooperating. Until it does begin to heal, I am grounded alone in a foreign country.  What began -- and was budgeted -- as a ten day medical turnaround, has turned into a medical financial disaster.  To ge tth ecare I needed, I borrowed the limit allowable agianst my retirement fund.  There is nothing left, but the expenses keep mounting while I the doctors struggle to heal me.

So many people have offered their care and support through Facebook, both emotionally and financially, that I am beyond grateful, amazed and overwhelmed by the people that truly make up my life. I wish I had better adjectives at hand to express my feelings right now, but clouded with pain killers, only those words I use over and over again are rising to the surface although they seem so inadequate.

I still don't know what's going to happen, but because so many of you offered to help me -- even as uncomfortable as this makes me -- I decided after much soul-searching to accept in complete awe of your generosity. But, it is a temporary acceptance, if you will. I promise you this, I am not expecting anything. I am only putting the information here because I was asked so earnestly to do so. And I do so out of respect for and in honor of you and the spirit in which your offers (financial, emotional, physical -- all supportive offers) were made. Simply, I am allowing myself to lean upon you while I figure all this out and what to actually do next. I didn't start out documenting this journey for anything other than my own amusement so, I am more than a little bowled over by what I really did find on this journey: a restoration of my faith in people.

My pledge: I plan to replace every penny, every one, by increasing my own charitable giving once I am back on US soil and recovered. I want you to understand how much I mean this, and to encourage people who chose to give that they should only give what they are personally comfortable with. I also want to be assured in return that people aren't driven to over contribute by their emotional selves because they care for me. Believe me, the goodness you have all shown me already will last in my heart forever.

[inhaling deep breath] $5 from each of my friends would pay the extended bill (The total is roughly $2500 now for the recovery center alone). The doctors (both of them) and the hospital have waived all service fees and the recovery home has given us a reduced rate, but 24 more days than planned is a bit of a whopper (or "whooper" as my beautiful brilliant Belgian friend Pascale would say). If you can, please help. Every dollar helps.

Thank you friends and stranger aline for your help, concern, empathy and support.