It is real tough, especially now days! Even before 9-11, we sponsored a family whose son was going to have a "gratis" surgery by the surgeon that I worked for. Even the local hospital volunteered to waive the charges...and the rotary helped pay for their plane tickets. They stayed with us for 27 days while this took place.
YET, even with all of that info...it took us over 3 months of hard work, contacting one of our Senators, multiple phone calls and documentation..to get approval. And this was with a medical problem of a Jamaican child whose life was changed for the better. I would hate to think of how hard it is now. Good luck!
