Help Aaron Walk Again- Steps To A New Normal

Hi- I am Karen Smith Wells, Aaron's twin sister. We are the youngest set of three sets of twins our amazing mother had, all together a single mom of 10. He, nor our family, could have ever imagined that at 56 years young that he would be a double amputee. This after three surgeries and all of which could have been mitigated if it were not for the horrific health disparities of his care as a Black man on disability in NC, and frankly of people of color pervasively in the US.

As twins growing up and even now, when Aaron has faced challenges, I am usually emotionally distraught, while he takes it all in stride. After nearly going into a diabetic coma, Aaron was diagnosed with diabetes in his early thirties and had to go on disability. That was a tough blow, but he learned how to manage it and live, though disability income is nowhere near a living wage. But his recent health challenge is the most heart-wrenching and life-altering. In 2021, after the surgical and post-care mishandling of the broken ankle of a diabetic, his right leg had to be amputated through the calf. While I was hysterical, Aaron took it in stride and successfully managed through his recovery with a plan and support of his sons William and Jamel and their families, and cracking jokes throughout the process (Aaron is as funny (at times morbidly) as our dad was:). Within 12 months, Aaron learned to walk with his prosthetic leg, was driving again, went back to work after 20 years, and moved into his new place. Just as he was adjusting to his new normal, he noticed challenges with his left foot. He went to the ER 2 times by ambulance, and they sent him home, sick, and unable to eat as a diabetic. He returned 2 more times to 2 different hospitals, one an hour away, pleading with them to look at his foot and they sent him home, or by his 6th hour in one ER he had to go home as he was too sick to stay, and he was still in the queue to be seen. After 4 ER hospital visits within a month and several doctors' visits over 4 months, Aaron was sent home unable to eat or take his meds and a foot, his only foot, getting worse.

Aaron was getting sicker. We were so worried and felt so helpless as no local doctors or hospitals would help. Fortunately, Aaron had a previously scheduled procedure to have stints put in his left leg due to circulation, the same leg that he was having untreated foot problems. He thought this would finally allow him to get the foot looked at since it was on the same leg as the procedure. He was admitted to a 5th hospital for this procedure. When Aaron was admitted and as he was going under for the surgical procedure, he asked that they look at his foot. They performed the surgery and were about to discharge him again without looking at his foot. Aaron had to irately demand them to look at his foot and refuse to be discharged until they did. They finally sent in a podiatrist and examined his foot with X-rays and tests. The results came in and the doctor came back and shared candidly and remorsefully that he had advanced gangrene growing in his remaining foot, and it had to be amputated. This news came 16 months after the first amputation. To think, the doctor and hospital completed surgery on a leg that had a foot with gangrene and they were going to discharge him. If left untreated, the gangrene could have killed him if he had not demanded to be seen- again.

The undiagnosed and untreated gangrene that was first noticed by Aaron 4 months and 4 hospitals beforehand had caused the muscle in his calf to be infected, and 3 days later after a mid-calf amputation of his left leg, they had to amputate again through his mid-thigh due to the infection caused by the untreated foot. After 2 misshaped surgeries, lack of care in 5 hospitals, and 3 amputation surgeries in 16 months, Aaron is now a double amputee, one leg at the calf, and one leg at the thigh.

Aaron’s journey to recovery will be a long one, but one he is determined to do and has already set timeframes for his recovery and to walk again. Our mom was my She-ro and Aaron is truly my Hero. It has been tough, but he has shown such bravery ( showing little to no fear throughout this process) focused on recovery and an infectious sense of humor.

But Aaron needs our help taking steps into his new normal. While the family is pitching in with our time and treasure, Aaron’s needs are more significant. We are asking for your help to raise additional funds to help Aaron on his journey to walk again, one he is determined to do once working through the red tape of needing two totally different prosthetics. Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 to help offset but not fully cover what is needed for his astronomical medical bills, transportation going to the doctor 2-3 times per week, physical therapy to learn to walk again with 2 prosthetics, making his home wheelchair accessible, new shoes and pants needed for the 2 prosthetics, and in-home care to help with meals and cleaning up.

God is so faithful and has protected him through the process and tumultuous health journey. And God remains in the healing business. Goodness and Mercy have followed him the whole way.

Thank you for your consideration from our family to yours.

Karen