It is hard to explain in words everything that we have gone through over the last year, but I will try my best. My husband Gary had four surgeries last year due to a bone infection in his tibia. The final surgery was in October of '24, which resulted in a right leg below the knee amputation. As you can imagine, it caused a lot of financial hardships with our only income suddenly being diminished. We still have bills we are paying on from that ordeal.

Gary was able to go back to work and has done so for the last six months. He has had pain with the prosthetic not fitting right. Two months ago, we noticed a growth on his stump, and we asked if that could be removed so he could be fitted with a new prosthetic that would fit him better and not cause him pain. In this process, we found out he would need a whole new surgery on his stump, which is called a revision.

This new surgery was done on July 17, 2025. Thankfully, due to the kindness of others in his first go-round, we pretty much have all the medical necessities he needs in this healing process.

To help us try to get caught up with bills that piled up with his last surgery, I found a job at a gas station after not working for 22 years. I am so grateful for that. But what I make will not even come close to making up for what we are losing with him being out of work for at least four months! He will have to wait three months this go-round before they will even start the process of getting him fitted for a new leg, and then at least another month of going through that process.

Like I mentioned, we are still paying on bills from the last time. There are co-pays and such that we have with each visit and procedure, and we are still working on those, not to mention all the new ones.

As you can imagine, there is an emotional toll, and the effects it has on Gary in not being able to provide. And the emotional toll it has on me as his wife. In the middle of all the medical issues, life happens. Our car has broken down, and that is essential for having to drive to Oklahoma City for doctor appointments and check-ups. His insurance through the company comes out of his disability check, and we must keep that up to help pay for all the medical and a new leg. All of this adding to the emotional toll.

Imagine being on your fifth surgery, and me trying to work as he heals. His short-term disability after insurance is less than $200 a week. It is better than nothing, but not nearly enough to cover what we need just for living expenses, let alone all the medical and gas, etc. Even with my paycheck, it puts us two paychecks short of what we would normally get with Gary working. And that is without all the new medical stuff being added.

We are trusting in God, and we always pray and we do count our blessings. We've been through a lot in the past several years. We lost our daughter to cancer and have moved to Oklahoma to help my mom who also has her own medical issues. Asking for help does not mean we lack faith. It just means that we are trying all avenues to help God help us through the kindness of others. Every dollar helps and is needed desperately and so appreciated. If you can't give, please pray for complete healing for Gary during this process. I will post pictures of the old surgery process and keep updates on this new journey. Thank you and have a blessed day.