Richard & Shela West Housing Fund

Richard West is a lymphoma survior who is struggling with severe deconditioning after a gangrenous diabetic foot ulcer resulted in him being placed in a long term care facility last year.  Rather than engaging him in therapies aimed at improving his physical condition, they discharged him from PT and did not treat his lymphedma. He has lost most of the strength in his left leg (the good side) so he can't even do a standing pivot transfer.  His lymphedema has reduced the range of motion in his legs to the point that he only has about 15 degrees of flex, which means that he can't even ride in a regular car or van.  Over the weekend of February 7-10, we took him into UIC Medical center where they admitted him for evaluation and treatment.  His ultimate personal goal is to be able to return home, but because of the way long term care payment works in concert with disability, they have ended up short rent money for the apartment in which he and his sister Shela have been living.  The goal of this fund is to raise money to get them caught up in their rent, so however his hospital discharge is handled there won't be issues with back rent preventing them from finding a new living situation.  In addition, they have been using a TracFone, which is a good economical solution, but with the challenges of coordinating care, moving, etc., it's important for them to have more minutes available.  I have set the amount for this fundraisier to pay for the back rent and for a phone card that will get them 1000 minutes available for the next year, plus automatically double the minutes of any future purchases.