Erin's New Leg Fund

Erin Warbington is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hello! My name is Erin, and I am in desperate need of a new prosthetic leg before I begin nursing school! I lost my leg from the knee down 30 years ago to Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and I have never let my disability restrict me from living a productive and adventurous life. Aside from being a teacher for low-income students for the last 14 years, I also have worked in commercial fishing, volunteered for community organizations, lifeguarded, and enjoyed recreational activities such as hiking, snowboarding and surfing, which severely damages my prosthetic leg and components.

In the last year, I have lost over 60 pounds, and as my prosthetic is custom built for a much heavier "me," I have been struggling with not only keeping it attached, but also my comfort and mobility have been greatly compromised. I would like to lose more weight and persue a healthier lifestyle, but I am unable to do so with the large and damaged prosthetic I currenlty am using, let alone afford the repairs and replacement parts for my decade old prosthetic.

My health insurance will only cover a small portion of a new prosthetic, as according to my insurance, it is "not a medical necessity, such as insulin or heart medication." Though my ill-fitting prosthetic is causing skeletal and muscular damage to compensate for it's disfunction and misalignment, it is still considered an elective medical expense. This leaves me with a very large financial balance and burden. I do not qualify for grants or governemnt support since I am not an ethnic minority, single parent, veteran, unemployed or considered disabled.

For those of you who know me well, you are aware of how difficult it is for me to ask for "help." I have never felt "disabled," and my current prosthetic situation is not only frustrating for me, but also taking a toll on my perseverence. I truly need your help.

I am seeking financial support to not only replace my current prosthetic leg for daily mobility, but to also provide me with a "sport" leg which would allow me to continue to participate in athletic and lifestyle activities which I have had to postpone due to potential prosthetic damage. (ie. sand/saltwater+hydraulics= busted leg and very unhappy prosthetic tech!)

Your generous donation will allow me to work towards my personal goals for healthy living, provide safe and comfortable mobility while I persue my degree in nursing, regain my quality of daily life, and participate in the sports and activities I have had to eliminate due to financial and physical strain.

Your generous donation will provide me with not only a functioning daily prosthetic and sport leg, but also assist in traveling costs, funds lost from employment due to fittings, and future repairs as needed.

I greatly appreciate you taking the time to ready and share my GoFundMe profile! I am also willing to do public speaking to students or professionals regarding my experiences, and if you have a fundraising idea, please let me know! :)

Here's to putting my "good foot forward" and to "get my foot in the door" towards personal and professional success!

Thank you!