Hello, my name is Billy Eiden. I would like to share with you why I’m here asking for your help.

      CAUTION : ( Graphic photos included)

        In 2007, I was in a near fatal accident and fell off of a 20 foot bridge. I was rushed to the hospital where they put me in a drug induced coma for two weeks. When I woke up I had an “external fixator” on my right leg and foot with rods and pins sticking out everywhere. My right tibia and fibula were broken and both feet were shattered. My left foot had a steel plate secured with seven screws. My right foot had an “Ex-fix” secured with rods and pins. My left wrist was shattered and required five pins to put back together. My back was broken as well and had to be fused together at L4-S1 with more rods and screws.

      As you can see, I had a really bad day! I subsequently spent  three years in a wheelchair before my right leg and foot were strong enough for the fusion surgery that I had in January 2010. It was then a steel plate and ten screws were put in my right foot. So that gets me out of the wheelchair, but I had to learn how to walk again. That is, I had to learn coordination / balance skills all over again. 
 

   

      Fast forward to 2013. 

 Osteomyelitis, a bone infection opened up on the bottom of my foot which required surgery, bone debridement and six weeks of IV antibiotics.

     Fast forward to 2018. 

Another bone infection popped up. It was in the same location, and resulted in another surgery and bone debridement, as well as another six weeks of IV antibiotics.

     

     - Many of you might know that taking antibiotics, whether through IV or pills, over a long period of time, has a very negative affect on the good bacteria in your body. (And, yes, I am taking Probiotics). 

 

      January 2019 

A podiatrist lanced a supposed “boil” on the back of my foot to find that the bone infection was back, and had spread to the ankle. I was placed on antibiotics again until November 2019!  At that same time I had surgery on my right great toe to receive a new toe joint, and on my pinky toe, which was rotated and pinned for about six weeks.  

***Combined, these surgeries required me to be on antibiotics for the entire year of 2019 and 2020, and throughout 2021.*** 

Wreaking havoc on myself and my insides.

 

     November 2020 

There was no longer any metal in my foot, but my infection never went away. After many doctor visits, I was told that if the infection gets in your bloodstream, it can actually kill me. -  To avoid becoming septic, my ONLY recourse was to AMPUTATE my lower leg. (below the knee, if that’s any consolation?)  

   So, as you can imagine, my life  just turned upside down. And to make things more challenging, my wife had a fall at her job and hit her head at the bottom of some stairs, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury. She’s been unable to work since her accident, so I’m pretty much the major breadwinner. 

 

     I’ve been working for myself this last year, doing Handyman/Remodeling HVAC  jobs. This enabled me to work around my pain and numerous doctors appointments. I’ve always been a very hard worker, but to go down like this, is not what I had in mind at this stage in my life. I’m 51 now,  and I think it be a little late in life to learn a whole new career.     - I truly believe that this prosthetic leg will be the (Final) answer to my prayers, and I can get back to a new “normal” life. 

 

     For now I am asking for your help in whatever way that may be. I do have health insurance, but I don’t know what will be covered and what will not be covered. My job is physically demanding, and I am a Very active individual. It seems that the prosthetic leg I need may not be covered by insurance. It’s really  expensive.  Please don’t pity me, as this is my penance for the choices I made many years ago. However, I am NOT going on disability! I actually love working, and plan on getting back to it as soon as the doctors  release me . 

I CAN and WILL  overcome this, and approve it, I’m going to hike Mount Timpanogos next year! Everyone’s invited!  

 

     So, in a nutshell, I just need a little  help with medical and living expenses until I can get my new leg and physical therapy to get me Back on BOTH feet again. 

       

 

Thank you for your kindness and prayers.  

 

      Sincerely,

      Billy Eiden

 

 

 

Note from friend, Deb, who created this GoFundMe: