Millions of hard working families in America live without health insurance, hoping, praying or knocking-on-wood that nobody gets sick, especially one of the kids.

When a family’s luck runs out, their concerns are double. They’re worried to death about the child’s health, but in the back of their minds is the price of making the child well again.

How much will it cost, and how can we ever get all that money?

Such thoughts are going through the minds of Royce Wellman and his wife Lisa Rancore-Wellman as they steel themselves for tough times. Their son, 13-year-old Hayden Rancore-Wellman, will be admitted to Children’s Hospital in Seattle tomorrow, April 15, to begin preparing for brain surgery April 20.

Hayden is a polite, bright-eyed and well-spoken boy who loves to play soccer and looks forward to competing on the gridiron when he reaches high school. He enjoys his studies at Oak Harbor Middle School where his two favorite teachers are Mrs. Snow in language arts and Mr. Hunting in social studies.

But he’s facing major brain surgery and there was concern in his eyes Thursday. “Yeah, kind of,” he replied when asked if he was worried. “Today it kind of hit me.”

His last day of school, followed by his final soccer game before surgery, was Friday. His class at Oak Harbor Middle School was informed of his upcoming surgery and his friends all know about it.

“I love to hang out with my friends,” he said. “They’re saying hurry up and come back.”

Aside from a bout with pneumonia over Christmas, Hayden has always been a healthy boy. His mom and dad both work in Oak Harbor where they have lived for 11 years. Mom works for Service Alternatives and Dad for Grand Rod & Tackle, but neither job comes with health insurance.

Two weeks ago Hayden wasn’t feeling well so he slept beside his mother. During the night he had a grand mal seizure, which awakened his mom. Doctors told them it was lucky she was next to him, because if it had happened when he was sleeping alone he wouldn’t have remembered it in the morning.

“God was looking over us,” said Royce Welman.

An MRI scan revealed a tumor in Hayden’s brain, and now doctors at Children’s have to get it out.

Hayden was fully informed of his upcoming operation and describes it as if he’s the surgeon. “It’ll be four hours long to remove the tumor,” he said. “They’ll put in titanium plates, and cut the muscle that controls my chewing. They’ll fix it on the way out. I’ll spend the night in intensive care, four to seven days in the hospital, and four to six weeks recovering.”

Royce watches calmly as his son explains the surgery, but the worry is evident on his face. “It’s a big burden,” he said of the entire experience. “But people have been great; that’s why we moved to the island.” He is a former Navy man, but he said that’s not why they moved here. They came here for the people and the way of life.

Friends encouraged the family to open an account at Wells Fargo Bank for anyone who wants to help with medical expenses. Royce isn’t the type to ask for help, but he sees the need for it in this situation.

He has no idea what the surgery will cost, but already the bills are coming in. One blood test alone cost $480. “That’s before neurosurgery and everything else,” he said.

The parents have enough to worry about without medical bills on their minds. Anyone who wants to help can stop by any Wells Fargo bank and contribute to the Hayden Rancore-Wellman fund, in care of Royce Wellman. The account number is 624-734-8789.

Meanwhile, Hayden is anxious to get the surgery over with so he can move on with his life. “I really want to play football,” he said.