Toe Amputation Fundraiser

Hello! My name is Kit and this is my first GoFundMe. I'm a 30-year-old dude with a 9lb cat that rules my household, a basement full of foster cats, and a backyard full of very spoiled hens.

These funds are for my big toe amputation, scheduled 1/3/24. Getting the new year off on the right foot! Or, at least, getting something off of my right foot...

This second surgery is a very unexpected expense. It started as a very simple (planned!) surgery on 12/5/23 to remove a tumor from the side of my right big toe. I've had that tumor for as long as I can remember. Though it was thankfully found to be benign in testing, it did cause daily discomfort and pressure. It also swelled up and made walking very painful for a week at a time, probably 3-4 times a year. Removing it felt great! Except, there were complications nobody saw coming...

My care team wrapped my bandage too tightly after the surgery. I fully lost circulation in my foot for 4+ hours. By the time the anesthesia wore off, the damage was done and blood flow had been cut off too long to my big toe. Over the next few days, I was in crippling pain as necrosis set in and the tissue began to blister and die. I accidentally overdosed on Percocets (daily max is 10, and I had taken 12), luckily avoided any serious damage from that - I'm told it can cause respiratory failure, but did end up in the ER needing morphine for the pain of the tissue dying.

Weeks of limited mobility followed, doctor visits, pain, and drama. On Thursday, I sent my surgeon some updated pictures, and he confirmed what I already feared was true: the ol' toe has to go.

For those of you who are curious and not squeamish, I've compiled a timeline of photos of my big toe's final weeks on this earth. Do NOT click on this link if you're squeamish. And also, please do not send them to WikiFeet. I can't stop you, but I will be disappointed in you lol

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7yEsZaaWkxZURhEUA

And now for something gross in a different way - some nitty gritty prices...

My current estimated out of pocket from the new surgery is $1,863.12

My amount owed from the ER visit is $1,137.02

I'm still paying off the first surgery (OOP $991.00 so far), the pre-surgery screening (MRI $447.56, X-rays $109.93, and ultrasound $292.51), and a few hundred dollars in expenses for supplies (shower boot, tape, gauze, bandages, xeroform gauze, etc).

My deductible through my insurance plan at work is $6350.00, so I'll be... footing the bill... for at least that much. I was prepared for the first surgery and its expenses. But not so much the chaos, expenses, pain, and amputation that followed, all from a caregiver's mistake.

If you are still reading and so inclined, I would be extremely grateful for any donations, large or small, to help with these expenses. You're also more than welcome to Venmo me @Kit-Ward (I'm the dork in the yellow shirt dual-wielding Twizzlers) or PayPal @Kitmond (I'm the super cool guy with the lap chicken).

paypal.me/kitmond

If you can't help, that's seriously okay - I appreciate you reading, caring, and making it this far. It's a very expensive world out there right now and there are definitely people in more dire need of funds for more urgent matters <3

Thank you for your time, your kindness, and your strength in lifting others up.

With love,

-Kit & Gruumsh