As many of you know, my husband Dave has been unable to walk for two years after a hip replacement. What started as a diabetic emergency and blood infection turned into a nightmare when he developed severe bed wounds due to inadequate care at both a hospital and a post-acute care facility. The hospital failed to turn him or treat his wounds properly, and the nursing facility also neglected to turn him every two hours for weeks. I only learned the extent of his injuries two weeks ago when I saw photos of his wounds. The wound in his sacral area was so deep I could see his spine, and after being readmitted to the hospital, the wound required surgery to clean it. It now looks like a giant shark took a huge bite out of his back side. Dave has been in and out of the ICU and was preparing for flap surgery to cover the wound with a skin graft. He’s been on a special bed that relieves pressure on his wounds, but just two nights ago, he suffered another emergency and needed blood transfusions because the wound was bleeding internally. The hospital staff had to act quickly to stabilize him.

Dave’s journey has been incredibly difficult, and it’s been heartbreaking to watch him suffer from complications that could have been prevented with proper care. After his upcoming surgery, he will only have a week in the hospital before needing to move to a new facility. Unfortunately, he only has a limited number of Medicare days left, and the facility is very expensive. I have not been able to work for the past two years because I have been caring for Dave full-time, making sure he received the attention and care he needed. We have used up our savings to cover bills, and now we are unable to refinance our home because I haven’t worked. We are house rich and cash poor, and will eventually need to sell our home to have funds to live on while I return to work.

This fundraiser is to help Dave stay in the care facility long enough to fully heal. Any support you can give will help us get through this incredibly challenging time and ensure Dave gets the care he needs. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.