Can you please help Brian to further his recovery

My name is Michelle and I am the wife of Brian Shirley for who this fundraiser is for. Brian Shirley is a 30 year retired volunteer firefighter for the former Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, he was an EMT-I for 30+ years where he worked in the public arena, for 911 services and private patient transport, he was instrumental in the management and recovery efforts of many natural disasters, especially efforts for Hurricane Katrina, and has co-ordinated many fundraisers for individuals and charitable organizations that raised many hundreds of thousands of dollars. He was well known within his own community, the greater community, and those closest to him for his huge work ethic, and his even larger heart for those in need at their worst moments.

During the first six months of 2021, we lost everything. But never in our wildest dreams did we expect what happened in the early hours of Easter Sunday. Brian underwent an emergency amputation to his right leg. He was in Ben Taub hospital for four weeks where he underwent five major surgeries to stave off a flesh eating bacteria that threatened to take his life. Two further weeks in a rehabilitation facility he came home to a house that had been his home for over thirty years, but had been sold when he first went into hospital.

Our first fundraiser we raised monies for support devices Brian needed to be able to regain some form of independence in the home and in his life. We started the long task of applying for disability, hospital visits for a prosthetic, and a frantic search for somewhere to live. We raised enough money to be able to rent an apartment for six months, but that has also reached its end. We were recently told that we may have to pay for the prosthetic leg ourselves (which can cost anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 $US), and until we have a leg, no one will employ Brian due to safety reasons. We were told during our last phone call with disability that our application will take a further four months at least.

We have been lucky to have been supported by friends and strangers during the last few months, with Gallery Furniture of Houston even donating basic furniture after all of ours was destroyed after the great freeze experienced during February. We have been extremely lucky.

We now have to humbly ask our community for help once again. We find ourselves backed into a corner, we need to take control back of our lives somehow. Brian’s mental well being is starting to suffer due to his newfound sedentary lifestyle and no hope of returning to employment in the near future. We do continue to search out charitable facilities for help, but demand for prosthetic support is very high right now as well, so also will take time.

We are eternally grateful to those who have helped us so far, and we will be eternally grateful to those who decide to donate, share, and support us in anyway possible around the globe. Thank you so much for your time and consideration once again.

Lotsa love,

Michelle xxx

(sorry, this is how I end all my communication )