Dave Waalen's Medical Fund

Ashley Waalen is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Let me tell you about this fighter right here.

On Thursday, March 7, 2017 David Waalen, our beloved father, friend, and brother had surgery on his right ankle to fix a plethora of issues including: deteriorating cartilage, a previous fusion of the ankle, and arthritis. It only took ten days after the surgery to notice something was not right. He sought multiple wound specialists to determine if there was an external infection but the results always came back negative.

After weeks of running tests and constantly telling multiple medical specialists something was not right, we had feared the worst was true. His body rejected his new hardware and his ankle blew up like a balloon. Immediately, his wife Renee rushed him to the nearest emergency room and within an hour his world was turned upside down. The doctors informed him that the infection wasn't external but rather internal. He was diagnosed with a bone infection and rushed to Regions Hospital in St. Paul to undergo emergency surgery. A week after being admitted to Regions, and multiple surgeries later (to try to drain the infection), the doctors recommended that our father gets his leg, slightly below the knee amputated. The risk of the infection spreading upward into his organs was high and the tissue around his ankle was dead so without hesitation, he agreed to amputate.

Since losing his leg, his life has been more challenging; he has difficulty in doing many simple tasks. By sharing this message and making a small donation we will help him find his new normal!

All money raised will be given to David and his family to pay the bills that come with getting a prosthetic, continued treatment, as well as the numerous unanticipated costs that have come from this extended hospital stay. We sincerely thank you for every dollar you are able to give. Every little bit helps and we're immensely grateful!

(WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES)

April 29th, 2017: Ashley's Graduation