My uncle Louis has always been unapologetically himself: stubborn, hilarious, and full of heart. He has a legendary snarky wit, great taste in music, a deep love of horror movies, and is never happier than when he’s cooking for his family. He’s not one to ask for help, so I’m asking on his behalf.

Louis, a chef from Memphis, Tennessee, is now facing one of the greatest challenges of his life. He suffers from peripheral artery disease, a condition that has caused years of pain and complications. In 2016, after countless surgeries, Louis lost his first leg.

After that first amputation, he poured everything he had into recovery. He learned to walk again with one leg and eventually returned to work as a chef for a time.

Since then, he has endured a long and grueling series of operations and procedures to preserve the health of his remaining leg. In the time between that first amputation and now, Louis has remained a constant in our lives. He has continued cooking for us, making us laugh, and showing up with the fierce spirit only he has. He’s a reminder to us all that happiness, love, and humor can live alongside hardship.

But this summer, after six more surgeries, he underwent a second amputation and is now a double amputee. The journey has been unimaginably painful and exhausting, but Louis has faced it with grit, resilience, and his trademark humor.

He’s currently recovering at Baptist Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital in Memphis, TN, working hard each day and keeping everyone laughing in the process. By his side every step of the way are his loving wife, Sue, and their son, Gino — his world and his greatest supporters. Sue has stepped into the role of full-time caregiver while continuing to work, holding everything together with strength and grace.

Sue is also navigating her own medical challenges. It’s essential that she’s able to rest, care for herself, and mitigate stress, especially while balancing work and caring for Louis. The demands on her are immense, and support from friends and family will help provide the breathing room they both need.

Louis is hoping to return home later this month to be reunited with his beloved pug, Panda, and get back to doing what he loves: cooking, cracking jokes, and spending time with the people who love him. But the road ahead won’t be easy.

Their family is now facing significant financial strain, including, among other expenses, the need to cover:

Living on Sue’s single income and his disability funds, they’ve always managed to make ends meet, but this situation is more than they can handle alone. 

Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward supporting Louis’s existing medical bills, the purchase of necessary mobility devices, improving their home for accessibility, and helping this family focus on what truly matters: healing, recovery, and adapting to their new reality together.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting in any way you can. Your generosity means the world to our family.