You know it's hard as a son to witness your Dad, who is like a super hero in your eyes, go through so much medically. It's really altered the course of his life.

In 2021, my dad, Kelly Havins, went on what was supposed to be a routine work trip to Southern California. During the trip, he was dealing with what appeared to be a small wound on his foot while continuing to work and push through it. What nobody realized was that the wound had become severely infected and turned into sepsis, a life threatening infection that spread through his bloodstream and nearly took his life. One morning, he woke up unable to walk, collapsed in his hotel lobby, and was rushed to the ER in Santa Clarita, California. What followed was months in the hospital, multiple surgeries, and several moments where our family truly did not know if he would survive. Doctors had to amputate part of his left foot, perform emergency surgery on his right arm to remove septic infection, and complete skin graft procedures from his thigh. He spent nearly three months hospitalized fighting for his life.

Unfortunately, the battle didn’t end there. Over the last several years, my dad has continued to face severe complications from the sepsis, including chronic kidney disease, PTSD, retinal degeneration requiring ongoing eye injections, and repeated infections and surgeries on his right foot. Over the past two years alone, he underwent five surgeries trying to save his right leg from a severe bone infection. Despite exhausting every possible option, the infection continued to spread. Most recently, doctors were forced to amputate his right leg below the knee in order to save his life. Today, my dad is recovering from that amputation while also living with the previous amputation on his left foot. The emotional, physical, and financial toll has been overwhelming. Despite carrying insurance, he has spent years battling denied claims, appeals, uncovered medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, prosthetics, and ongoing treatments. This medical crisis has completely depleted the savings he spent a lifetime building.

Because of these life changing complications, he is now on Social Security Disability, dramatically impacting his ability to work and generate income the way he once could. If you know Kelly, you know asking for help is not something he would normally do. He has always been hardworking, independent, and focused on helping others. In fact, during his recovery, he founded a nonprofit organization called Missing Peaces, a fully approved 501(c)(3) created to support people facing major medical trauma and devastating life events. Although his recovery has temporarily put that mission on hold, one of the things driving him forward is the hope of eventually helping others through his own experience. Right now, he simply needs a fighting chance at a new beginning. A chance to heal. A chance to regain independence. A chance to continue being present for his children and his three granddaughters, who mean the world to him.

Any donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward medical expenses and ongoing treatments, prosthetics and rehabilitation, mobility and recovery equipment, vehicle modifications so he can drive independently again, and daily living expenses during recovery.

We ask for people to donate funds, as well as share throughout their community, family and friends. Most importantly, your support helps give him hope and the opportunity to rebuild his life after years of unimaginable hardship. Our family is deeply grateful for every prayer, share, and donation. Thank you for taking the time to read his story and for helping give my dad a chance to move forward.