Donate to Judy Barron's Recovery and Independence

Greetings!

My name is Judy Barron (Watson) and I'm a below-the-knee amputee due to being a victim of crime during the horrific robbery of H & S Drugstore here in Lewisburg, TN, back on Saturday morning, October 11, 1980. My then-husband (Richard Watson) and I were shot in the legs with a sawed-off shotgun when we came home for the weekend from college, and my husband initially entered the drugstore to buy a friend a birthday card. We surmise we were shot versus being tied up, as were the terrified employees and customers, and a 10-month-old baby left sitting on a desktop, because we interrupted the trio's getaway with the stolen drugs. (This incident can be confirmed via court records and news articles if you wish to Google the daring robbery 44 years ago). I apologize in advance for the length of my message, but feel it necessary for you to understand my plight.

In the beginning, I was so grateful for the innumerable prayers from family, friends, and complete strangers, as well as my skilled team of surgeons (orthopedic, vascular, and plastic), that my leg and foot were saved within my initial two-month stay at the hospital. However, I had no idea what lay ahead, including the immense pain and suffering, ongoing surgeries in the years to come, setbacks & disappointments, PTSD, and severe anxiety disorder. Not to mention having to attend and participate in the trials & parole hearings of the bandits spanning two decades, as one of the male bandits escaped and was not apprehended until 23 years later.

In any case, time moved on and I returned to college with a backpack and crutches & graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Thus, I was physically able to engage in gainful employment in Nashville for a few decades before my injuries made it impossible for me to do so as my foot continued to club inwards due to the muscles & tissue being blown out. This clubbing made me very susceptible to several bad falls over the years.

In late 2015, I moved back to my mother’s home in Lewisburg to take care of her as she suffered from Alzheimer’s. However, in early January 2018, with my foot severely clubbed inwards, I slipped while getting the mail and fell, pretty much lopping off my right foot.

Although surgeons attempted to save my foot by placing rods through my foot and ankle for several months, they eventually determined that my foot would have to be amputated. During my time in the hospital and weeks of recovery at this same NHC Nursing Home (where I now reside again), my mother also became physically ill. My amazing brother was forced to leave his family in Nashville to take care of both of us together here in Lewisburg. My brother actually prepared a makeshift hospital room for me in my mother’s big den downstairs. And at that time, my beautiful Yorkie Coco was still by my side.

Sadly, our mother passed away at home after hospice on July 5, 2018, and I had my foot amputated approximately two weeks later.

We were forced to sell my mother’s home at the beginning of 2019, and I was unable to return to Nashville due to the expensive cost of even a one-bedroom apartment, plus utilities, on my fixed disability income. Fortunately, a close friend of my mother’s and mine from church offered to rent me a small duplex she and her husband owned here in Lewisburg for a very reasonable monthly rent at the beginning of 2019.

However, on July 3, 2024, I experienced a very bad fall on my concrete porch (while using my prosthetic & walker) on my way out to do some errands. I soon learned that I had severely broken my right amputee leg’s femur. My surgeon at Maury Regional Hospital advised me he could either implant a metal plate in my leg right above my knee to my upper thigh, or he would be forced to amputate the remainder of my leg. Of course, I elected the former, with the prayer that my femur would heal and I would be able to walk and drive again with my prosthetic and a walker, versus being confined full-time to a wheelchair for the rest of my life.

After undergoing the surgery at Maury Regional Hospital, I was sent to Maury Regional’s Transitional Care Center in order to get the best & most frequent physical therapy possible since I could not safely return home alone, per my surgeon, Dr. McCall. My hope was that I might be able to get back into my prosthetic within several months so I could walk again with the assistance of a walker. I was taken aback when my doctor opined that I only had about a 50/50% chance of walking again with my prosthetic.

I remained at Maury Regional Transitional Care with physical therapy daily for a little over a month, before a bed became available here at NHC Lewisburg, where I remain today. I have continued physical therapy and, in the last few weeks, have been able to bear some weight on my broken leg as pain tolerated with my prosthetic & walker under the supervision of my physical therapist.

However, on my November 5th doctor’s appointment, X-rays showed I still had about a two-inch gap in my femur. Dr. McCall ordered an ultrasound bone stimulator for me which I began using immediately for at least three or more times per day for twenty minutes, while continuing to work with my physical therapist.

On my last doctor visit, January 6th, 2025, I was excited to learn that my femur actually showed some remodeling in two places. I am very hopeful that continued use of this stimulator and continued hard work with my physical therapists, I will be able to walk with my prosthetic and walker again once I am released to go home in a few months.

Unfortunately, the skilled nursing facility & all NHC nursing homes take the patients’ entire monthly disability or social security income, except for $50 per month, which won’t even cover my phone bill. My very loving brother and his family sacrificed to pay my rent, utilities, and a few essential bills through the end of the year; however, they are no longer able to continue to do so. Yet again, I was blessed as some very special friends from church and a longtime friend of mine donated enough money to enable me to continue my much-needed therapy this month and part of February while my femur hopefully continues to heal. However, I am afraid I will require a few more months here at NHC.

I don’t return to my surgeon until February 25, 2025, for updated X-rays, which I pray will show increased healing of my femur.

Depending on what my next doctor visit reveals, I am hopeful he will tell me I will be able to return home by April or May 2025 at the latest.

With all of the above being said, I am now humbly forced to kindly request your support and donations so that I can continue to pay my rent and utilities until the time comes that I can return home.

Unfortunately, I have procrastinated asking for help for so long, my need for assistance has become more immediate and time-sensitive.

With what I know today, my donation goal is approximately $4,500.00. Of course, I will be glad to keep you posted on my progress and my doctor’s appointments if you so desire. My medical bills are just beginning to arrive & I have not even counted them in my donations goal of $4,500.00.

If you are able and so kind to assist me, I would greatly appreciate it! I can receive your donations via money orders, cashier’s checks, or local personal checks at:

NHC Nursing Home

Attn: Judy Barron, Room #214

1653 Mooresville Highway

Lewisburg, TN 37091

I also have Venmo and PayPal accounts which may be easier and quicker to send and access funds to pay my rent and utilities & a few other essential bills. In my experience, both methods have proved safe ways to transfer money. In addition, PayPal and Venmo would be convenient for me since I am unable to get out of the facility except for van transportation with a wheelchair lift to transport me to my doctors’ appointments, but if not, I can get assistance from my brother or church friends to make any necessary paper deposits for me.

My PayPal account is [email redacted]. My Venmo account is @Judith-Barron-8

The last 4 digits of my phone are 2933

Anxiously awaiting your consideration, I certainly want to thank you in advance for any donations you may be able to help me with in my long 44-year nightmare and my current recovery. May the Lord bless you and your families with good health!

With Warmest Regards, Judy