Help Build a Leg Fundraiser
Donation protected
As most of you may know, in July 2010 I had my left leg amputated due to an incompetent doctor, Dr. John Lim, General Surgeon, who thought my main artery in my leg was a vein. He tied it off as such, which stopped all blood supply to my leg. It was either amputate or die.
In am on a fixed disability income which is not much at all. I know everyone thinks I should be loaded, including me, however, I am anything but. My medical malpractice law suit was as much as a disappointment as my inability to walk on a consistent basis after 5 years. I was fortunate to be able to buy a wheel-chair accessible home and van, but other than that, there wasn’t much left for anything else. I am on Medicare and I have to rely on the state for my medical and prosthetic needs. I have paid out $55,000 towards my leg, not including travel and lodging expenses. My knee alone was $35,000. It’s crazy money and the Medicare only pays 70%.
As I now approach the 5th year mark, I am still struggling to walk. I never in a million years expected it to take this long! Most people including myself think you can just slap a leg on & away you go, not so much! I used to think somehow it must be my fault, however, from my journey through the years, and from what I have heard at Prosthetic companies, I have found out that most above-knee amputees are having the same problem as me. The legs just keep falling off. About 2 years ago, I met a man who was an above-knee amputee; he had been approaching 7 years of fighting to walk. Once he received assistance from POA in Orlando, FL he was finally able to walk, even run. I really wanted, needed, to try POA; which I have four times so far. POA has helped me more than any other Prosthetic company I have been to through the years. POA was amazing; people from all around the world go there, the ones that refuse to give up. I am closer than I have ever been with any other prosthesis in Michigan. I never expected not to be able to work and earn a living this many years later, I really want to work, I just am not able to as of yet. Every day I struggle from the moment I wake. If I’m lucky enough to have a leg, I can only wear it for a few hours. It takes seven different steps just to get it on, and most of the time I have to re-do it throughout those few hours. It is very frustrating for sure, but when you get fit correctly, it will be worth all the pain in getting there. I have really had over 40 leg sockets. It’s been a true nightmare!! I am used to being able to support myself and my son and I hate not being able to work. The socket I have now is sucking the bottom of my little leg leaving a large bruise and constant pain. I usually get 2 hours a day to wear the leg, so I have to pick and choose what’s the most important thing for that day and go from there. The wheelchair is the worst part; it makes me cry just thinking about how long I have been stuck in it. It does evil things to your body and your walls (LOL). We are so close to getting it right, so we are calling in the troops for a bowling/jewelry fundraiser.
What breaks my heart is that Dr. John Lim is still working away as if nothing happened. He no longer does vascular (thank the lord), but he is still out there doing other surgeries, never showing a single bit of remorse. I don’t dwell on it for sure, just saying – run if you can.
I am not looking for pity, I feel very blessed for my family and friends love and support. I am not sure if I would even get out of bed on a daily basis without them.
In am on a fixed disability income which is not much at all. I know everyone thinks I should be loaded, including me, however, I am anything but. My medical malpractice law suit was as much as a disappointment as my inability to walk on a consistent basis after 5 years. I was fortunate to be able to buy a wheel-chair accessible home and van, but other than that, there wasn’t much left for anything else. I am on Medicare and I have to rely on the state for my medical and prosthetic needs. I have paid out $55,000 towards my leg, not including travel and lodging expenses. My knee alone was $35,000. It’s crazy money and the Medicare only pays 70%.
As I now approach the 5th year mark, I am still struggling to walk. I never in a million years expected it to take this long! Most people including myself think you can just slap a leg on & away you go, not so much! I used to think somehow it must be my fault, however, from my journey through the years, and from what I have heard at Prosthetic companies, I have found out that most above-knee amputees are having the same problem as me. The legs just keep falling off. About 2 years ago, I met a man who was an above-knee amputee; he had been approaching 7 years of fighting to walk. Once he received assistance from POA in Orlando, FL he was finally able to walk, even run. I really wanted, needed, to try POA; which I have four times so far. POA has helped me more than any other Prosthetic company I have been to through the years. POA was amazing; people from all around the world go there, the ones that refuse to give up. I am closer than I have ever been with any other prosthesis in Michigan. I never expected not to be able to work and earn a living this many years later, I really want to work, I just am not able to as of yet. Every day I struggle from the moment I wake. If I’m lucky enough to have a leg, I can only wear it for a few hours. It takes seven different steps just to get it on, and most of the time I have to re-do it throughout those few hours. It is very frustrating for sure, but when you get fit correctly, it will be worth all the pain in getting there. I have really had over 40 leg sockets. It’s been a true nightmare!! I am used to being able to support myself and my son and I hate not being able to work. The socket I have now is sucking the bottom of my little leg leaving a large bruise and constant pain. I usually get 2 hours a day to wear the leg, so I have to pick and choose what’s the most important thing for that day and go from there. The wheelchair is the worst part; it makes me cry just thinking about how long I have been stuck in it. It does evil things to your body and your walls (LOL). We are so close to getting it right, so we are calling in the troops for a bowling/jewelry fundraiser.
What breaks my heart is that Dr. John Lim is still working away as if nothing happened. He no longer does vascular (thank the lord), but he is still out there doing other surgeries, never showing a single bit of remorse. I don’t dwell on it for sure, just saying – run if you can.
I am not looking for pity, I feel very blessed for my family and friends love and support. I am not sure if I would even get out of bed on a daily basis without them.
Organizer
Sherrie Lloyd
Organizer
Macomb Township, MI