Please Donate - Help Owen get new legs!

Click for a video thank you for helping me get halfway: Thank you, I'm humbled.

Whatever happened to Owen Davis?

Why do I ask? Well, I have heard a lot of rumors about me of late. First things first, and very good news, I am not dead. I got that rumor from a lifelong friend. I assured him that had I died, I would let him know first. All joking aside, I wondered how he could have been so wrong, or at least misguided, about my situation. It is dire, indeed, to have two legs amputated, but I am very grateful that I am still among the living.

The whole ordeal started back in September, when my father-in-law strongly suggested we go to an Urgent Care nearby. You see, I had developed a pretty bad leg wound, that just would not heal at all. Hoping it would simply go away by itself had not worked. I endured many tests, many questions, and a night in the hallway at U of M’s ER with my wife, Cheryl, by my side. That was not a good night, at all.

The next 7 weeks were spent at the Cardiovascular Center. The diagnosis was peripheral artery disease. The doctors talked a lot and dispensed medications, but my ears really perked up when my doctor mentioned amputation as a possible cure. I was stunned. Losing a leg was something I had never, ever considered. They told me that perhaps by-pass surgery of my veins would help, before having to amputate, so I opted for that. In the end, however, they had to start taking pieces of me. They took my right foot, in an effort to stave off the worst, and save the rest. Then, they determined that would not be enough, so they took that leg above the knee.

While enduring these three surgeries, I also suffered two minor strokes. I hated being in the hospital, but at least everything was caught in time. Cheryl stayed by my side and became my warrior nurse, note taker, question asker, and more. A clear mind was not my strong suit at this time. I do remember that she lost her job, a victim of the lousy mortgage world. The hits just kept on coming.

At this point, I was transferred to Chelsea for occupational / physical and speech therapy. It was a bleak time, folks. I felt weak and uncoordinated. I didn’t want to see myself in the mirror, and I struggled to let visitors come see me. Finally, just before Thanksgiving, they released me and I got to go home, albeit with a wheelchair.

I had my ups and downs, quite literally. I learned my way around the house and car with one leg. I got stronger and more determined to navigate like the football player I was. But not all was peaches and cream. By January 24, I was back under the knife. My left leg had to go, too, before the infection spread throughout my body. *Sigh*

I guess my ‘Dancing with the Stars’ dream is shattered. *Double sigh*

People ask me, “What are you gonna do now?” Well, life goes on with or without legs, so I guess, I will go on, too. We are talking with the Fake Leg people, prosthetics, so I will be going that route in the coming weeks and months. My first goal is to walk again. I’m being fitted for “Stubbies” and, hopefully, I will soon graduate to “Long Legs.” Then, I hope to drive. A man has to have goals!

Goals I have, and I hope the willpower stays strong, too. But what is lacking right now is money, plain and simple. I have quickly come to deeply appreciate two things: Modern medicine and humility. I never really thought I’d need either. But here I am, hoping to make lifelong use of both – and I simply can’t do it without your help.

Cheryl’s last unemployment check has come. In the State of Michigan the spouse cannot receive pay as caregiver, but I still need her assistance with daily activities, and to keep me smiling. In any event, for me to keep Medicaid, she cannot earn more than $1,200 per month. My case for disability is taking its sweet time being approved – it will just take government time.

Anything you can spare would really help out. We have staggering hospital bills from four surgeries and lengthy stays. I will need two wheelchairs, perhaps later upgrades for different environments. There’s physical therapy to pay for, and a host of household expenses – why, we even got a new toilet seat!

In a nutshell, that’s what’s happening with me. I hope you are well and telling your loved ones “I love you” every day!

God Bless you!