Aid for Robert's Health and Family Stability

I am Robert Dodge, and my life has been hard, beginning with the cancer diagnosis of Acute Lymphatic Leukemia at 7 years old after a seizure and being life-flighted to a children's hospital. My life was changed when during experimental treatment at the time required a spinal tap, and the doctor completing it was not adequately educated, causing the nerves in my left leg to be destroyed, causing loss of control and proper movement. After the event, because of a foot drop, they tried metal screws and plates to keep my foot aligned. One of the bolts broke inside my foot, which unknowingly began an even more significant storm. The metal screw had bacteria inside, and when it broke, I was exposed to MRSA. This caused my foot to become infected, and even with the removal of the parts, it continued until I became septic and had a below-the-knee amputation in 2009. Due to the infection becoming gangrene, I was stuck in a negative pressure room to ensure it would not spread to others. I was doing well and able to be active for most of my life with the below-the-knee. In 2017, I had to spend more time out of my leg because I was getting odd sores on my stump, and the doctors could not figure it out. I would go outside of my sister's home where I was staying to sit outside on the step. When I was hoping back in, my foot caught the broken door edge, and I fell, ripping open the end of my leg and falling into an area where my sister's dogs were kenneled, causing me to get a quad infection requiring surgery. During the surgery, it was discovered that the reason I was getting sores was because a back calf muscle had detached and was causing infection. After the revision surgery, they stated they believed they had gotten all the information but were unsure, and only time would tell. I spent a lot of time on some very nasty medication through a PICC line in my arm. My stump was never the same, and I had multiple issues with prosthetics that were both a failure on the maker and my stump not being able to use a prosthetic. In 2019, due to a one-way valve prosthetic, I got a blood blister on the end of my stump, resulting in the final infection that required me to go above the knee if I ever wanted to walk again. I had made some bad choices when I was lying around sick and began using drugs and got into trouble trying to make money to pay my bills. I had issues throughout my life being exposed at a young age by adults in my life. In 2019, before my revision surgery, because I knew I was going to be down for a long time, I wanted to put it off surgery as long as we could. I wanted to stand to be able to get married to my beautiful wife who was my high school friend and helped me to get sober. I also wanted to be standing for my drug court graduation, which happened in June 2019. In July 2019, I went and had surgery to become an above-the-knee. Recovery went great, and I began getting up in a temporary leg to help get me moving again. I was able to get right up in my leg like there was no difference. In the middle of my rehab, my wife going to college to become a nurse; her father was preparing to be with the spirits due to his being diagnosed with bladder cancer and was not able to physically complete treatment. We spent as much time helping him as possible, and in November 2019, he went home. Right after, we had a world event that no one likes to discuss anymore. My healing was going great at this point, and my wife was preparing to start her LPN classes. In March 2020, I became fully disabled. In April 2020, I was exposed to the virus through 3 different sources of contact, and I became very ill. I had swelling in my brain and not feeling well for a month. In May, I had a significant seizure and cardiac event, resulting in a hospital visit and needing further treatment and testing. It was hard because this was something new and everyone was trying to stay alive. There were multiple really bad events and many visits to the ER and doctor's office. There were some very bad medications in there, even to the point that in June 2021, the doctor told my wife to begin getting my funeral arranged; he did not know if I was going to make it. We took an emergency trip to show my wife and kids where I wanted my ashes spread because no one knew where it was beside me. Guess what, still here and still being everyone's favorite pain in the ass.

In 2020, I began getting community-based services through my county. While this is supposed to help with my health and well-being because of failures, it has caused great stress and issues. They have not adequately documented the level of denying me funding for my care and care needs. This put a more challenging weight on my wife. Any leftovers from her student loans would go to my care; we had to take out credit cards and unsecured loans to make it. She had to stop working because the care providers we had to care for me failed, and I was hurt very badly. Despite having nothing, when we have had a little extra change or something, we have always tried to help someone else because we know what it is like not to have anything and be hurt.

It has become so bad with services that this is the second year we have had to take my case to the appeals court for proper documentation of my care. In 2024, the county did not even follow the court order and denied me services. This year, it is continuing, and even with my approved budget, I have been denied access to almost $10,000 for my care needs. They have even threatened and taken action to cause harm and delay my budget because I won't agree to their incorrect assessments. My outdoor scooter is broken and can't be repaired; my indoor scooter needs repairs and might no longer be covered under warranty. I am working on getting a new leg to be maybe able to walk again because I am now stable with my health to get me up and walking after 5 years of uncontrollable seizures. What we have in debt from my care for the last 5 years is far over what we ask for help. We are just trying to get some relief, and donations to help with my ongoing care are very much needed. We use every resource in our community and would not be coming to everyone for help if it was not highly needed. We are at a make-or-break point selling off items and packing because we don't know monthly if we will have a place to live. With the modifications needed for my home, moving around safely is hard.

While my wife and I were preparing this, we got the notification that even though Medicare pays my wife for my care, now we are over the limit and have to readjust my budget, reducing once again my wife's hours more to ensure that I can at least get basic coverage for my medical needs and treatment. As of right now, we do not know if my wife will be paid for any of her hours after April 1. I also received from the appeals court that I must take all my damages to a higher court and get legal representation.

This is horrible what my family and I are being put through at this point with my care. This should not be, and if we were in any other country in the world, my wife would be getting help and support with my needed care.

If Is there any way that you can help our family so I can get my medical needs covered and so that we do not become homeless. We will be eternally grateful to anyone who can help us right now in our time of need. I know everyone is hurting, but even a little bit could help us.