Help an Amputee Stand Again

Introduction

Nobody starts off at the top. The same thing can be said for my friend Joe. Stand with me in supporting Joe.

Family Life & Hobbies

Joe was born in June of 1966 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Gordon and Yolanda. Gordon was a decorated member of the United States Marines and Yolanda a military wife. Joe had 2 brothers and 3 sisters all of which are military brats. Hard work, honor and loyalty are all underwhelming terms to describe this wonderful family. Joe married Kim in 1983 in Cleveland, Ohio. 2021 marks their 38th wedding anniversary. Christopher and Joe were born not long after. Joe spends his free time volunteering with North Coast Emergency Services. They help first responders with traffic management needs after car accidents and with broken down motorists all over Northeast Ohio. Joe was also the vice president of the Fallen Riders Memorial fund for several years. They help families of fatal motorcycle accident victims get back on their feet after the loss of a loved one.

Work Ethic

Joe has been a hardworking and responsible man from a very young age. Starting as a youth Joe took on the role as a paper boy at 9 years old delivering the Tribune in Oceanside California. At 12 Joe volunteered to work events with the Special Olympics in Oceanside, CA. At 16 Joe took on a job at Burger King as a drive thru cashier. At the age of 23 Joe went to work for Sun TV moving appliances into homes and businesses across the state of Ohio.

At 34 a great opportunity presented itself to join the wonderful department of Public Works for the City of Cleveland. For 21 years Joe dedicated himself to the residents of the City of Cleveland and the Department of Public Works until tragedy struck.

Tragedy Strikes

On Saturday, April 24, 2021 a trifecta of tragic events converged. At 9:30PM Joe stepped into the shower at his home. The hot water heater was malfunctioning. The water running hot, Joe stepped into the shower and instantly suffered the most of severe burns, a 4th degree burn to his lower left leg and foot. It was bad. After going to the burn unit at Metro Health Center and being kept for nearly 3 weeks things seemed to start heading in the right direction and Joe went home. After being home for only 9 days, the wounds were not healing properly. At a doctors visit it was determined that Joe needed to be admitted to the burn unit once again. From Monday, May 3, 2021 until Sunday, May 23, 2021 there was uncertainty. Skin grafts, specialists, poking and prodding, amputation, and death were all on the table. Finally, late on Sunday, May 23 after several specialists examined Joe’s leg and found that the tendons were dying. This was directly observable by a visual inspection. The options were immediately clear. Either amputate Joes left leg 4 inches below the knee or face certain death from the infection that was clearly starting to take hold. Late day on Sunday, May 23, 2021 Joe lost his lower left leg.

The Solution & Your Help

Joe needs us all to stand together while he waits for his prosthetic leg. Joe is eager to get back to work and some of his hobbies, but he cannot do this alone. With the mounting medical bills, looming prosthetic expense and the loss of wages from the amputation Joe needs our help to keep his mortgage paid and his electricity on. Please donate something to Joe. Even $1 will go a long way. Help us spread the word. Share this with your friends and family. Together, we can get Joe back on his feet again.