Help Bruce!
Donation protected
Hi everyone, my name is Elysia Perkins and I'm a senior at Texas State University. 2020 has been insane so far for everyone, and it's recently gotten a bit worse for my family since my dad Bruce went to the hospital a few weeks ago.
If anyone knows my dad, you know that he is the most hilarious and positive person in the room at any time. Truly the life of the party. He will never avoid telling a joke or making everyone smile, even with complete strangers. He is both the biggest pain in my butt and the most important, loving, hardworking, inspiring, supportive, and helpful person I have ever met. I cannot imagine my life without him.
Bruce took himself to the hospital on August 25th in extreme pain. We later found out that if he hadn't taken himself to the hospital when he did, he likely wouldn't have made it there at all. He was taken to the ICU and was told that he had very dangerous and often fatal flesh-eating bacteria on his body. After several surgeries the doctors were able to remove the skin that had been affected by the bacteria. He now has a large area on his body without skin, spanning from his pelvic area to his lower abdomen and reaching to the left side of his stomach/torso. He can hardly walk. He has a colostomy bag and cannot use the restroom. He is constantly in an immense amount of pain. He has been in the hospital for weeks and we don't know how long he will be there.
The doctors said he is one of the healthiest patients they have ever seen with this disease. This disease tends to affect those with diabetes, but usually those who have very badly-handled diabetes and are in very poor health. The doctor said he couldn't remember the last time he had been able to speak to a patient with this disease before operation--usually by the time these individuals reach the hospital they are unconscious/unable to communicate--but my dad was speaking and asking questions. I have heard several doctors and nurses say he must have an incredibly high pain tolerance to be able to function as he has--cracking jokes and being sarcastic--during this entire experience. Bruce is pretty damn strong.
Unfortunately, Bruce does not have health insurance. His bill is going to be astronomical. He has not left the hospital since he was admitted and he's still there--and there's no end in sight. He moved back to Texas from Arizona to be closer to his kids during the COVID-19 outbreak and had trouble finding work. After working at Wal-Mart for a while he found an amazing job as a salesman (which he has always been). He told me it was the first job he had been passionate about in a long time. While he is able to close open accounts from the hospital, he is largely unable to sell and work. We've never been very well-off, so this bill feels absolutely hopeless. I'm a broke college kid and clearly will not be able to help with the tens of thousands of dollars that he will owe. He anticipates it will be close to 100k.
If you can donate anything, my family would be incredibly grateful. Even if you can't donate, a share is also super helpful. I will send important updates when I can on the situation. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and I sure hope 2020 doesn't get any worse!
If anyone knows my dad, you know that he is the most hilarious and positive person in the room at any time. Truly the life of the party. He will never avoid telling a joke or making everyone smile, even with complete strangers. He is both the biggest pain in my butt and the most important, loving, hardworking, inspiring, supportive, and helpful person I have ever met. I cannot imagine my life without him.
Bruce took himself to the hospital on August 25th in extreme pain. We later found out that if he hadn't taken himself to the hospital when he did, he likely wouldn't have made it there at all. He was taken to the ICU and was told that he had very dangerous and often fatal flesh-eating bacteria on his body. After several surgeries the doctors were able to remove the skin that had been affected by the bacteria. He now has a large area on his body without skin, spanning from his pelvic area to his lower abdomen and reaching to the left side of his stomach/torso. He can hardly walk. He has a colostomy bag and cannot use the restroom. He is constantly in an immense amount of pain. He has been in the hospital for weeks and we don't know how long he will be there.
The doctors said he is one of the healthiest patients they have ever seen with this disease. This disease tends to affect those with diabetes, but usually those who have very badly-handled diabetes and are in very poor health. The doctor said he couldn't remember the last time he had been able to speak to a patient with this disease before operation--usually by the time these individuals reach the hospital they are unconscious/unable to communicate--but my dad was speaking and asking questions. I have heard several doctors and nurses say he must have an incredibly high pain tolerance to be able to function as he has--cracking jokes and being sarcastic--during this entire experience. Bruce is pretty damn strong.
Unfortunately, Bruce does not have health insurance. His bill is going to be astronomical. He has not left the hospital since he was admitted and he's still there--and there's no end in sight. He moved back to Texas from Arizona to be closer to his kids during the COVID-19 outbreak and had trouble finding work. After working at Wal-Mart for a while he found an amazing job as a salesman (which he has always been). He told me it was the first job he had been passionate about in a long time. While he is able to close open accounts from the hospital, he is largely unable to sell and work. We've never been very well-off, so this bill feels absolutely hopeless. I'm a broke college kid and clearly will not be able to help with the tens of thousands of dollars that he will owe. He anticipates it will be close to 100k.
If you can donate anything, my family would be incredibly grateful. Even if you can't donate, a share is also super helpful. I will send important updates when I can on the situation. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and I sure hope 2020 doesn't get any worse!
Organizer
Elysia Perkins
Organizer
San Marcos, TX