A new life for James
Donation protected
This is James, who just a few weeks ago was a happy & healthy 40-year old husband, father, son, brother and friend. He loved spending time with his family and being a dad to Anna (almost 4). He also loved his job as a 3rd grade teacher where his students adored him as much as he adored them. And when you think of James, it’s not without a guitar in hand or his music. But unfortunately, he is now in the fight of his life.
On January 9th, James received a steroid shot for back pain. Two days later, in excruciating pain, he went to the ER. They told him he had an arthritic hip, gave him morphine and pain pills and sent him home. Hours later in the early hours of January 12th, when there was no relief from the pain, James was admitted to Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit, MI), where he has been and will continue to be in their Surgical ICU.
The pain James was experiencing was from a bacterial infection that traveled very quickly through his blood. His body went into septic shock, his organs began to shut down and he was taken into emergency surgery. He has since had 6 surgeries, he remains on intermittent kidney dialysis and most other organs have been affected. But it gets worse. What began as a bacterial infection, developed into a highly aggressive form of necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria); an extremely rare and destructive disease. All 6 surgeries have been performed on James right leg & buttocks, each one requiring the surgeons to remove more tissue and muscle to stop the infection from spreading. The medicine they used to save his life starved his extremities of proper blood flow. After his last surgery, the family received devastating news; James is facing the complete or partial amputation of every limb. James' right leg was removed Wednesday January 31st , saving just 8 inches from the hip. James will also lose both hands (how far up the arms is still to be determined). And his left foot. His doctor told the family that James is the worst case he has ever seen and his road to recovery will take years.
We are not sure when James will get out of the hospital or when he will return to work, if ever. So we have set up this page for those that want to help James, his wife Jessica, and his daughter Anna. The long road ahead will include physical and emotional rehabilitation, prostheses, alterations to their house, a handicapped vehicle and so many other obstacles and challenges.
Your donation will allow James and his family to begin this long and difficult journey while alleviating the stress and uncertainty posed by the current and future mounting medical bills. If you are able to help in any way, the family greatly appreciates it. They thank everyone who has already been there to support them and ask that you continue to keep James and the family in your thoughts and prayers. All of their lives have been forever changed. Thank you.
On January 9th, James received a steroid shot for back pain. Two days later, in excruciating pain, he went to the ER. They told him he had an arthritic hip, gave him morphine and pain pills and sent him home. Hours later in the early hours of January 12th, when there was no relief from the pain, James was admitted to Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit, MI), where he has been and will continue to be in their Surgical ICU.
The pain James was experiencing was from a bacterial infection that traveled very quickly through his blood. His body went into septic shock, his organs began to shut down and he was taken into emergency surgery. He has since had 6 surgeries, he remains on intermittent kidney dialysis and most other organs have been affected. But it gets worse. What began as a bacterial infection, developed into a highly aggressive form of necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria); an extremely rare and destructive disease. All 6 surgeries have been performed on James right leg & buttocks, each one requiring the surgeons to remove more tissue and muscle to stop the infection from spreading. The medicine they used to save his life starved his extremities of proper blood flow. After his last surgery, the family received devastating news; James is facing the complete or partial amputation of every limb. James' right leg was removed Wednesday January 31st , saving just 8 inches from the hip. James will also lose both hands (how far up the arms is still to be determined). And his left foot. His doctor told the family that James is the worst case he has ever seen and his road to recovery will take years.
We are not sure when James will get out of the hospital or when he will return to work, if ever. So we have set up this page for those that want to help James, his wife Jessica, and his daughter Anna. The long road ahead will include physical and emotional rehabilitation, prostheses, alterations to their house, a handicapped vehicle and so many other obstacles and challenges.
Your donation will allow James and his family to begin this long and difficult journey while alleviating the stress and uncertainty posed by the current and future mounting medical bills. If you are able to help in any way, the family greatly appreciates it. They thank everyone who has already been there to support them and ask that you continue to keep James and the family in your thoughts and prayers. All of their lives have been forever changed. Thank you.
Organizer
Arnie Newsome
Organizer
Ferndale, MI
