As I was riding down to the post office a man bombs out of a parking lot and smashed right into me. He did not look both ways and he did not even look at me. After he hit me he just kept going and drove away. So I ended up flipping over the handle bars and becoming best friends with the pavement. I smashed my chin and head off the ground which took most of the impact. An old Spanish gentlemen who spoke broken English helped me out of the road because I got thrown into on coming traffic and he grabbed the bike too. I had no idea the severity of what my injuries were. The old man told me I was bleeding and I took my hand and touched my face and felt bone on my chin. Lots of flesh and bone. So I took my beanie and just covered my chin. Of course in Dustin fashion I asked the old man to take a photo of me with my iPhone so I could document this fine occasion.

I called a good friend of mine to come pick me up because I did not want to pay the $2,000 it is to ride in a ambulance even though I probably should have but I am stubborn like that. As we got to the hospital I told the people in the ER that I got hit by a car and they freaked out! They rushed me to Triage and started running all theses tests on me.

So after being in the hospital for most of the day and being poked and prodded and injected with this and that and had blood drawn. I also ended up getting a CT Scan, MRI, EKG, X-Rays, and 24 amazing stitches in my face.

In total I was at the hospital for 14 hours. I was told that I had 2 ligaments detach from my upper spine and a very very tiny bone chipped off my spine as well. They wanted to run an MRI on me and I refused because after being in the same position all day I was being stubborn because I was tired and wanted to go home.  My roommate LJ insisted and he put up a good argument as did Erinn and Steve as to why I should get the test. So to make all my friends happy I did it. But of course unknown to my knowledge MRI’s cost like $3,000!

So they discharge me with stitches, pain meds, a goofy brace, and a note not to work for almost a week. Fine by me I literally felt like I got hit by a car.

Literally that following Monday, the accident was on a Thursday, I got the first bill! Then that Wednesday I got another bill! The first bill was for the hospital stay and all the testing the second bill was for “repair superficial wound” aka my stitches. They don’t even wait or give you time to heal. I never had a problem with the medical industry in America till that day.

Here is were I need your help.

I have medical insurance. But it’s not covering all of the hospital bill. I am a recent college graduate who works retail right now barely living paycheck to paycheck and making ends meat. I know everyone out there has a similar story to mine when it comes to medical bills or other bills. The medical insurance places are already calling me daily to pay them, which I cannot at the moment, so I need your help! The hospital bill is over $7,000 and the second bill is over $800. My total bill for this visit is close to $8,000!

I’m not asking you to help donate hundreds or thousands of dollars but if you could donate $1, $5, $10 it will add up and help me keep them off my back for the time being. I would forever be in your debt and be so thankful for anything you could do to help me out! I have added a donate button to my paypal account were you can donate below!

Thank you so much!

PS. I am thinking about having an art show, some sort of benefit show, or ask a few bands to play to help raise some money. If you are able to do this or know of anyone who has a space available that would be awesome. You can email me at dustingenphoto@gmail.com