Medical Bills for Andrew Phillips

I created this page to help raise money for my good friend Andrew Phillips. Andrew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 15 years ago. He is self-employed and does not have health insurance, but has been doing his best to take care of himself and stay healthy. When people have diabetes, excess blood sugar causes nerves in the extremities to become damaged and not feel sensation as well as they once did, or at all, and it causes decreased circulation in the limbs. Diabetics have to be especially careful to avoid injury of their extremities, as these injuries can take a long time to heal and they risk serious bacterial infections. They may not even be aware that they got injured before it is too late because of the nerve damage. That is exactly what happened to Andrew when he got a small cut on the bottom of his foot. Before he knew it the cut had become infected and turned into a diabetic foot ulcer. The skin starting turning green, and the ulcer was emitting a foul odor, the infection was spreading. He went to the hospital and they quickly admitted him and put him on intravenous antibiotics. After a week or so in the hospital, they sent him home with a walking cast and oral antibiotics. Already behind in his bills from missing work, Andrew was forced to return to work right away. That was 6 months ago. They wanted him to have the cast changed 2 to 3 times a week, but the cost and time it took to do that limited him to once a week. The medical bills are really piling up and yesterday things took a turn for the worse and he was readmitted to the hospital. He was moved to the ICU earlier today and is scheduled for surgery ASAP to have his foot amputated. The infection has moved into his blood stream and moved into the bone in his foot. The type of work that Andrew does requires him to be on his feet all the time. After his foot is amputated, he will need to get fitted for a prosthetic limb and that will only add more to the mountain of bills he already has. Andrew is the type of guy who would do anything for anyone and I really hope that I can return the generosity that he has shown so many people through the years and help him out. Any amount that you can donate, large or small, would really be appreciated and go to a good cause. Thank you and God Bless.

Steve Riley