Foot Surgery for Ted Bruch

Thanks for looking at our GoFundMe page for our good friend Ted Bruch, who needs our help.

You see Ted’s picture with his sister, Meg.  What you don’t see is the “permanent” large boot on his injured foot, and his inability to walk normally.

Ted is a kind, gentle soul in his 60's.  He lives alone on his mini organic farm with his chickens, vegetable garden and yellow lab Lady.

Ted lives a very modest and clean lifestyle.  He makes the BEST egg salad on the planet from the eggs of his chickens.  He makes fresh soups daily with fresh herbs and spices, and shares them with his friends. 

Ted is a painter and jack of all trades kind of guy.  He is a serious tennis enthusiast and lover of the game but hasn't been able to play the last six years after two different foot surgeries, both gone "terribly wrong". He has lived in a boot, crutches and sometimes a wheelchair to support the leg for this entire time.

Ted needs another surgery to correct the damage done thus far, and help him get back his ability to walk normally and get rid of his boot. We want to inspire his friends and community to jump in and help him get the surgery he desperately needs.

Please help us raise $18,000 to help Ted get this needed surgery and make it through the 6-12 month recovery period.

From Lisa Van Arnam

 TED’S STORY:

In May 2011 I hurt my ankle during a clinic at DV.  My ankle was unstable and weak. The diagnosis was ligament damage in my ankle. 

I found what I thought was a good orthopedic surgeon in Asheville, and had an operation in 2012.  I now know now that this doctor was not qualified do such a major operation.  So many problems persisted a year later.  My foot was in constant pain and swollen. Four toes were dead, and I had no feeling in my lower leg. 

Once again I started looking for the best doctor available to try to fix my foot.  I found a doctor at Duke Medical Center who used to be the head of orthopedics.  He had a great reputation for doing complicated surgeries with success.  I was operated on again in November 2013. 

Since that surgery my foot has never been the same.  It's now deformed and I can no longer walk in regular shoes. I wear a boot and cannot be on my foot for more than six hours a day.  I live in habitual pain all day long. 

I had trust in both orthopedic surgeons who said they could fix my foot. It is so demoralizing to think that both doctors did not do what they said they would.  I now have to go back for a third surgery and have my bones fused together to correct my deformed foot.  Again I will miss at least six months of work. After two surgeries I've learned that ankle/foot surgeries are so difficult to recover from.  Hopefully after this surgery I can be able to walk somewhat normally again with NO PAIN.