Beat Diabetes
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Meet Leonard Lucero, son of Sylvia Lucero and deceased father Phillip Lucero, also known as "Hunter" and "Chiefy".
On July 9, 2018 his life forever changed. Leonard went to urgent care to have his foot checked. They checked his foot and did some lab work. They ended up sending him to the Emergency Room (ER) with a really bad infection on his right foot. He was told he was a diabetic (which he was not aware of, absolutely no signs) his blood sugar was really high too.
When he arrived at the ER, they did some more lab work and checked his vitals. He was admitted and the tests and surgeries began. By that evening he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. They started him on some an intense Antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks. We were told that he would have to undergo surgery the next day to find out how bad the infection was and how far it had spread. The MRI showed that the infection had reached the bone in his toe on his right foot and there was also and infection on the bottom of his foot as well.
On July 10, 2018 the surgeon gave us the bad news. He said that he would probably have to amputate his toe and possibly more. They went on to tell us that there was a possibility that they might have to amputate his leg, we were beyond devastated. We would not know the extent of damage until he did the surgery. The surgery was done and they had to remove the bone on his right big toe a big portion of skin on the arch of his foot. He needed to stay off his foot and was not able to put any pressure on the foot, which left him bed ridden for approximately six weeks.
On July 13, 2018 the next surgery was done. This surgery was to see how the infection was doing and to clean up. They did amputate his big toe. Now the recovery started. He had a wound vac machine attached to his foot to pull tissue from his body to try to fill the infected area on the bottom of his foot. This helped to a certain extent but he still has a good sized area on the bottom of his foot that will need additional care. He had to watch his diet, go through physical therapy, and to this day is still is not able to walk on his foot. Leonard stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks then moved to a rehabilitation facility. During his time at the rehab center, he had to go through additional physical therapy, learn how to check his blood sugar and give himself insulin shots and control his diet by watching the amount of carbs he ate at each meal. We finally got to take Leonard home on August 3, 2018.
He is still going through physical therapy, has home care three times a week and still can’t walk or put pressure on his right foot. The diabetes has also affected his kidneys and is currently being monitored to see what type of medical attention he is going to need for this.
As of right now we do not know how long the recovery process is going to take. He has not been able to work and has no benefits with his employer (we do not know for how long his employer will hold his job) and is having a hard time financially. At this point we do not know if, or when Leonard will be able to go back to work. We are asking that for your help to raise money to help with his medical bills and all his other monthly bills that need to get paid.
What is more upsetting is that the State will not help him with financial assistance. We are asking family, friends and all that can to donate anything you can to help him get back on track financially. He will need to have another surgery soon. They will have to do a skin graft on the arch of his foot. It might be a synthetic graft that is less invasive, if the insurance approves this procedure. If not, then they would have to remove some skin from his thigh to do the skin graft on his foot. We are hoping the synthetic is the way to go because of his diabetes and the healing process. Please pray that the Lord to give him the strength he needs to recover and healing of the mind, body and soul.
We ask for your prayers during this difficult time and thank you for your support.
On July 9, 2018 his life forever changed. Leonard went to urgent care to have his foot checked. They checked his foot and did some lab work. They ended up sending him to the Emergency Room (ER) with a really bad infection on his right foot. He was told he was a diabetic (which he was not aware of, absolutely no signs) his blood sugar was really high too.
When he arrived at the ER, they did some more lab work and checked his vitals. He was admitted and the tests and surgeries began. By that evening he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. They started him on some an intense Antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks. We were told that he would have to undergo surgery the next day to find out how bad the infection was and how far it had spread. The MRI showed that the infection had reached the bone in his toe on his right foot and there was also and infection on the bottom of his foot as well.
On July 10, 2018 the surgeon gave us the bad news. He said that he would probably have to amputate his toe and possibly more. They went on to tell us that there was a possibility that they might have to amputate his leg, we were beyond devastated. We would not know the extent of damage until he did the surgery. The surgery was done and they had to remove the bone on his right big toe a big portion of skin on the arch of his foot. He needed to stay off his foot and was not able to put any pressure on the foot, which left him bed ridden for approximately six weeks.
On July 13, 2018 the next surgery was done. This surgery was to see how the infection was doing and to clean up. They did amputate his big toe. Now the recovery started. He had a wound vac machine attached to his foot to pull tissue from his body to try to fill the infected area on the bottom of his foot. This helped to a certain extent but he still has a good sized area on the bottom of his foot that will need additional care. He had to watch his diet, go through physical therapy, and to this day is still is not able to walk on his foot. Leonard stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks then moved to a rehabilitation facility. During his time at the rehab center, he had to go through additional physical therapy, learn how to check his blood sugar and give himself insulin shots and control his diet by watching the amount of carbs he ate at each meal. We finally got to take Leonard home on August 3, 2018.
He is still going through physical therapy, has home care three times a week and still can’t walk or put pressure on his right foot. The diabetes has also affected his kidneys and is currently being monitored to see what type of medical attention he is going to need for this.
As of right now we do not know how long the recovery process is going to take. He has not been able to work and has no benefits with his employer (we do not know for how long his employer will hold his job) and is having a hard time financially. At this point we do not know if, or when Leonard will be able to go back to work. We are asking that for your help to raise money to help with his medical bills and all his other monthly bills that need to get paid.
What is more upsetting is that the State will not help him with financial assistance. We are asking family, friends and all that can to donate anything you can to help him get back on track financially. He will need to have another surgery soon. They will have to do a skin graft on the arch of his foot. It might be a synthetic graft that is less invasive, if the insurance approves this procedure. If not, then they would have to remove some skin from his thigh to do the skin graft on his foot. We are hoping the synthetic is the way to go because of his diabetes and the healing process. Please pray that the Lord to give him the strength he needs to recover and healing of the mind, body and soul.
We ask for your prayers during this difficult time and thank you for your support.
Organizer
Sylvia Lucero
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM
