Save Don's Leg
Donation protected
Don has been through a lot over the years. He served 20 years in the US Navy, and is a veteran of both the Vietnam and First Gulf War eras. After retiring from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, Don toiled in retail for longer than he’d care to remember, and even survived a lengthy stint at the North Carolina DMV. His work history doesn’t tell you everything about him, but it does tell you a lot about his character, his sense of duty, and the strength of his perseverance.
Years of service took their toll on Don’s health. Rather than skirmishes at sea, he has spent his recent years battling mobility issues due to old injuries, and related heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
Diabetes is a fierce opponent, and Don has done his best against it. Changing diet, juggling medication, dozens of doctors visits every year, and sometimes conflicting advice. About four years ago, he noticed a rough spot on the heel of his right foot. He didn’t think much about it until the day it split open. Nothing has been the same since. The doctor visits piled up even more, and they could never quite tame the wound; nor the swelling that came after; nor the pain, discomfort, and increased mobility problems. These were unpleasant facts of life, and still Don persevered.
In June 2017, things took a turn for the worse. Something changed, and Don was suddenly feeling worse than he’d ever felt. He was fevered and nauseated, and his foot was agonizing. He could barely walk. His doctors prescribed course after course of antibiotics to no effect. On July 8, an MRI led to a diagnosis of osteomyelitis, a bone infection. Weeks of intravenous antibiotics are the only thing that will cure the infection and save his leg.
It’s time for action, and action is costly. Years of illness have depleted Don’s savings. Even with Tricare For Life and Medicare, the cost of treatment is out of reach. Bandages, wraps, and other supplies are not covered by insurance. Even if he was able to make the drive to the hospital for six hours of daily antibiotic infusions, the risk of further infection is too high. A home healthcare nurse is available for a daily copayment of $150. The treatment will take six to eight weeks. The combined cost of care gives Don a fundraising target of $7500.
No donation is too small. Please help Don defeat osteomyelitis and save his leg today.
Years of service took their toll on Don’s health. Rather than skirmishes at sea, he has spent his recent years battling mobility issues due to old injuries, and related heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
Diabetes is a fierce opponent, and Don has done his best against it. Changing diet, juggling medication, dozens of doctors visits every year, and sometimes conflicting advice. About four years ago, he noticed a rough spot on the heel of his right foot. He didn’t think much about it until the day it split open. Nothing has been the same since. The doctor visits piled up even more, and they could never quite tame the wound; nor the swelling that came after; nor the pain, discomfort, and increased mobility problems. These were unpleasant facts of life, and still Don persevered.
In June 2017, things took a turn for the worse. Something changed, and Don was suddenly feeling worse than he’d ever felt. He was fevered and nauseated, and his foot was agonizing. He could barely walk. His doctors prescribed course after course of antibiotics to no effect. On July 8, an MRI led to a diagnosis of osteomyelitis, a bone infection. Weeks of intravenous antibiotics are the only thing that will cure the infection and save his leg.
It’s time for action, and action is costly. Years of illness have depleted Don’s savings. Even with Tricare For Life and Medicare, the cost of treatment is out of reach. Bandages, wraps, and other supplies are not covered by insurance. Even if he was able to make the drive to the hospital for six hours of daily antibiotic infusions, the risk of further infection is too high. A home healthcare nurse is available for a daily copayment of $150. The treatment will take six to eight weeks. The combined cost of care gives Don a fundraising target of $7500.
No donation is too small. Please help Don defeat osteomyelitis and save his leg today.
Organizer
Donnie Springfield
Organizer
Wilmington, NC
