Help David Regain His Health Post-Amputation
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Dearest Friends,
I am reaching out for support on behalf of my partner, David. Since we started dating in 2019, David and I have been building a wonderful life together. David is such a wonderful storyteller with a great sense of humor. He’s loyal and kind and always looking for ways to help others. My favorite early memory of David is when he first met my dog, an elderly, twenty-five pound beagle. David is 6’3” to my five-foot, but when Aki, famously wary of men, especially tall men, met him, he ran right up to David, tail wagging, jumped onto David, and kissed him all over. Somehow, Aki knew that this man was a good soul. From then on, David’s called Aki his “wing Beagle,” since Aki helped him “get the girl."
This past summer, David’s father passed away from complications of diabetes, a condition he unfortunately passed on to his son. David's worked so hard to manage his diabetes and get healthy, including walking Aki, and taking him swimming in Lake Ray Roberts, a half hour from our home in Texas. But last April, David was hospitalized after suffering an injury to his foot that just wouldn’t heal, a common problem for folks with diabetes. He continued under a doctor’s care after hospitalization, but was in constant pain. I’m a poet and PhD candidate, working as a writing tutor and also living with my own chronic illness. I love my work, but it doesn’t pay well. When David's leave of absence from his job under the Family Medical Leave Act ended in July, and because his foot still hadn’t healed, he had no choice but to leave his job, leaving me the sole breadwinner for our family.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2021, when David had a new infection that led to more doctors’ visits, and of course, more medical bills. Despite taking antibiotics and complying with doctor’s orders, the infection spread. On December 11th, David’s fever spiked, and I rushed him to Baylor Hospital in Dallas, where they determined that his fifth metatarsal was fractured, and infection had spread to one of his toes and through the middle of his foot. David had been so hopeful about the adventures we’d have once his injury healed, but the doctor gave us sobering news: my beloved required immediate surgery to amputate the affected toe and part of his foot.
Now, after a successful surgery, followed by eleven days in the hospital (during which I slept on a fold-out chair in David’s hospital room), and of course, yet more medical bills, my sweetheart is home. Healing will take three to four months barring complications, and includes meeting with the infectious disease specialist, wound care doctor, IV antibiotics that I administer at home, and possibly, hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy, all of which are very expensive and mostly not covered by insurance.
Though we have applied for financial assistance from the hospital, that assistance will only cover a small fraction of our bills. I’m reaching out to you to ask for your help getting David back on his feet, quite literally.
Here’s a rundown of some of David’s medical costs for the next eight weeks:
-Wound care visits: $7,500
-Infectious disease specialist appointments: $5,000
-Mobility aids such as wheelchair, electric bed base, supplements, medical supplies, etc.: $10,000
-Food, transportation, rent and basic living expenses: $3,000
We know that so many of you are also navigating major challenges and expenses, and are so grateful for any support you might offer. David’s still dreaming about our long-planned trip to Colorado, and hiking in Bookcliffs together, and someday, traveling together to Italy, since David's never been outside the United States. For now, we’re hunkered down in Denton, Texas with an aging beagle who’s worried about his David.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We’d appreciate your sharing our story with anyone you think might be moved to help. If you make a donation of $1,000 or more, I will write a poem for you. If you make a donation of $2,500 or more, we will send you a personalized thank you video and a poem. For donations of $5,000 or more, in addition to the poem and video, I’ll send you a copy of my poetry chapbook.
With love and gratitude,
Minadora, David, and Aki
I am reaching out for support on behalf of my partner, David. Since we started dating in 2019, David and I have been building a wonderful life together. David is such a wonderful storyteller with a great sense of humor. He’s loyal and kind and always looking for ways to help others. My favorite early memory of David is when he first met my dog, an elderly, twenty-five pound beagle. David is 6’3” to my five-foot, but when Aki, famously wary of men, especially tall men, met him, he ran right up to David, tail wagging, jumped onto David, and kissed him all over. Somehow, Aki knew that this man was a good soul. From then on, David’s called Aki his “wing Beagle,” since Aki helped him “get the girl."
This past summer, David’s father passed away from complications of diabetes, a condition he unfortunately passed on to his son. David's worked so hard to manage his diabetes and get healthy, including walking Aki, and taking him swimming in Lake Ray Roberts, a half hour from our home in Texas. But last April, David was hospitalized after suffering an injury to his foot that just wouldn’t heal, a common problem for folks with diabetes. He continued under a doctor’s care after hospitalization, but was in constant pain. I’m a poet and PhD candidate, working as a writing tutor and also living with my own chronic illness. I love my work, but it doesn’t pay well. When David's leave of absence from his job under the Family Medical Leave Act ended in July, and because his foot still hadn’t healed, he had no choice but to leave his job, leaving me the sole breadwinner for our family.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2021, when David had a new infection that led to more doctors’ visits, and of course, more medical bills. Despite taking antibiotics and complying with doctor’s orders, the infection spread. On December 11th, David’s fever spiked, and I rushed him to Baylor Hospital in Dallas, where they determined that his fifth metatarsal was fractured, and infection had spread to one of his toes and through the middle of his foot. David had been so hopeful about the adventures we’d have once his injury healed, but the doctor gave us sobering news: my beloved required immediate surgery to amputate the affected toe and part of his foot.
Now, after a successful surgery, followed by eleven days in the hospital (during which I slept on a fold-out chair in David’s hospital room), and of course, yet more medical bills, my sweetheart is home. Healing will take three to four months barring complications, and includes meeting with the infectious disease specialist, wound care doctor, IV antibiotics that I administer at home, and possibly, hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy, all of which are very expensive and mostly not covered by insurance.
Though we have applied for financial assistance from the hospital, that assistance will only cover a small fraction of our bills. I’m reaching out to you to ask for your help getting David back on his feet, quite literally.
Here’s a rundown of some of David’s medical costs for the next eight weeks:
-Wound care visits: $7,500
-Infectious disease specialist appointments: $5,000
-Mobility aids such as wheelchair, electric bed base, supplements, medical supplies, etc.: $10,000
-Food, transportation, rent and basic living expenses: $3,000
We know that so many of you are also navigating major challenges and expenses, and are so grateful for any support you might offer. David’s still dreaming about our long-planned trip to Colorado, and hiking in Bookcliffs together, and someday, traveling together to Italy, since David's never been outside the United States. For now, we’re hunkered down in Denton, Texas with an aging beagle who’s worried about his David.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We’d appreciate your sharing our story with anyone you think might be moved to help. If you make a donation of $1,000 or more, I will write a poem for you. If you make a donation of $2,500 or more, we will send you a personalized thank you video and a poem. For donations of $5,000 or more, in addition to the poem and video, I’ll send you a copy of my poetry chapbook.
With love and gratitude,
Minadora, David, and Aki
David enjoying the lake with his wing-beagle, Aki.
Images of David's foot pre-amputation showing how the infection had moved through his toe and tunneled to the bottom of his foot.
Organizer
Minadora Macheret
Organizer
Denton, TX