Help Jen Overcome Her Medical Crisis

Hello!

I have never done this before and I feel incredibly humble asking for help but sadly I am here and I have no other choice.

This all started when I had ankle replacement surgery on May 23, 2024. I started having complications a few days later. Excruciating, sharp pains. Lots of oozing, redness and swelling around my incision site. I was cleaning and changing my bandages twice a day. When I went to change my bandage on Saturday June 15, 2024 to my shock I saw my tendon and my incision was opened quite significantly. I called the after hours number, and was admitted to the hospital the next day with continuous IV antibiotics. I stayed for 12 days. I have insurance currently that allows me have home health come in, and to be able to give myself IV antibiotics at home.

I’ve had 3 surgeries so far, another one on Monday, July 1 and many more to come after. I currently have a spacer in my ankle, my surgeon had to take out my implant due to the severe infection. I have MSSA. I give myself an IV infusion every 8 hours and will for the next 6 weeks. I have a wound vac that is connected to my incision that gets changed weekly.

Eventually he will try to replace the joint implant again but it will be after all the healing and he will have to use the same incision site so I could end up back in the same position all over again. I can choose to do nothing but I will have very limited weight bearing time so walking is basically out the question. If I do it and it does get reinfected I risk amputation which is where I am now and why I’m on all the antibiotics and the continuous surgeries to go in and clean and drain my wound.

I’m not working currently, although I’m still employed for now, my job can’t accommodate my work restrictions and I have exhausted all my PTO and extended leave time.

So unemployment is out of the question. I don’t have any FMLA or disability as I’ve been there just under a year.

I am considered temporarily disabled but I can’t draw from that unless I will be down for 6 months or longer and at this point we are unsure of a timeline so I can’t take that road at the moment.

My last paycheck was only $200 and I have zero income going forward. Sadly life continues whether I can or not. I don’t know how I’m going to survive.

I am mentally very exhausted. It’s a lot and more than I’ve ever dealt with in my life. I cry daily.

If you have reached this far, I appreciate you listening to my story. If you choose to donate, thank you so very much.

With love,

Jen

Original photo of my tendon showing.

PICC Line placement

PICC Line change

The remaining photos are of are surgeries and bandage/wound vac changes.

After first surgery

First wound vac change

Second wound vac change. The metal pieces are the tissue expander and the blue dial is where they turn it to create more tension.

This is in hopes to close my wound without a tissue graft from my thigh.

Wound vac check Friday 6/28. Doesn’t look much progress but my surgeon is pleased.

He is high hopes he can close on Monday 7/1 during my surgery.