Double Amputee - Please support Doug Bourassa

Doug has been suffering from Type 1 Diabetes for the most part of his life. In the last few years he has been struggling with Peripheral Artery Disease, which had caused  his blood vessels to narrow and reduced blood flow to his legs and feet. He started losing his toes one or a couple at a time, part of his foot, then up to his ankle, and finally just below his knee. He recovered rather quickly, and not long after that he was up and walking with a prosthetic leg. We were happy for him, and hopeful he will go on with his life as normally as possible. Doug loves playing darts, hunting, working on projects in the shop. And he was doing all that, best as he could. Until a few months ago when he found out he had a wound on his heel. Infection had set in, he ended up in the hospital and shortly after that, the same story happened. First a few toes were gone, then the foot, and then the leg just below the knee. We were devastated. I personally thought he will give up physically and mentally, and won't make it through. At times he seemed quite depressed and hopeless. Other times he would say ''In three months I plan to walk out of here''. After spending 3 months in the hospital, he was moved into Masterpiece: Community Support Beds, because his house is not suited for a double below knee amputee. He needs a ramp or an elevator in order to get in / leave the house. He also needs his bathroom completely remodeled, so he can take care of his own physical and hygienic  needs. And last but not least he will need his truck modified so he can get around. Of course all that costs a lot, and when you look into the prices for anything handicap related, it is overwhelming. Doug can not afford any of that. He is eligible for a government funding, but nowhere near enough for any of his needs. He will receive $7,500 for sure and eventually up to 15,000 from Aids to Daily Living funding, to cover some of cost. The ramp and the elevator, each cost roughly $12,000, Doug will need one, whichever he gets approved; the quotes for remodeling his bathroom are around $16-18,000, and to modify his truck with hand controls will cost roughly $15,000. And if you do the math, even if he gets the full grant, that will only cover a portion of what he needs done, to live a half decent life, without depending on someone 24/7.  Our goal is to make this battle a little easier for him, to give him a brighter future. We have no choice, but to reach out for financial support in order to give Doug the care and best chance he can have to get through this. Please give what you can, every dollar will help reach our goal, and if you can't, please share our fundraiser with your friends. We intend to be fully transparent and reconcile all monies raised and we thank you so very much for your consideration and help, it means the world to us all and of course to Doug. Doug turned 51 today. Happy Birthday Doug!