Hi, my name is Nilo. After being hospitalized for sepsis and osteomyelitis in my spine in December 2025, recovery has been long and difficult, and the financial burdens are becoming overwhelming. I am asking for help to make my recovery successful.

I am asking for your help because the last two years have been very life changing and difficult for me. After being laid off at the end of February 2024, I got a cut on my left foot that caused a bone infection, requiring the amputation of one of my toes. After four months of recovery I got a new work from home job in July 2024 which helped greatly with continued recovery.

In June of 2025 I was hospitalized again due to an infected abscess at the amputation site. It required another surgery and due to the wound area increasing, the recovery was much longer than four months, the wound did not close until December of 2025. In the middle of recovery in August of 2025, my new job laid off 75 employees, including myself, and my other foot became swollen and infected, luckily it did not require immediate surgery, and my doctor required me to stay off of my right foot and take antibiotics for it. After x-rays and blood tests, it was determined that the bones and joints in my right foot had weakened and required extended recovery and a special boot. Since October of 2025, I have been required by my doctors to bear no weight on my right foot and use a knee scooter to keep weight off of my foot.

In November of 2025, I started having intense back pain that affected my posture and movement. After two days of this pain, I decided to go to the emergency room, where they did an x-ray and blood test. The ER doctors said the tests looked normal and sent me home with pain medications and antibiotics. From then on until early December I would visit the emergency room four more times as the pain intensified and spread down to my hips, pelvis, and legs. Walking was extremely pain, bathing was difficult, and using the bathroom hurt so much, I was in tears every time. I finally went to the ER for the fifth time, after twenty days of terrible pain, in tears and unable to walk without assistance from my dad.

After many tests and being admitted to the hospital, two amazing doctors discovered that I had sepsis due to a blood infection and vertebral osteomyelitis (infection of the spine). I spent two weeks in the hospital, in pain I had never felt before, once the blood infection and sepsis were cleared the infectious disease doctor discharged me with an IV PICC line. With the help of my siblings I spent twelve weeks taking antibiotics four times a day, every six hours. After twelve weeks, the infection was found still in my spine and the inflammation in my spine was extremely high. The infectious disease doctor has since put me on oral antibiotics.

There is a possibility that I may require surgery to remove the infection fully, my doctor says more tests are required in order to determine next steps after I finish with the oral antibiotics. I will see him in two weeks. The pain has not ceased. Every morning I wake up in pain. I cannot sit in regular chairs or on sofas any longer without special cushions. Riding in a car for more than twenty five minutes at time is difficult. I require a knee scooter and bulky boot whenever I travel to appointments. Walking without support is difficult and causes pain that can last hours. The antibiotics and pain medications have caused me nausea and dizziness and vomiting. The last four months have been rough on my body and mental health.

I love writing stories, songs, and poems. I love swimming and going on hikes. I love traveling and taking day trips. I love going to the movies with friends and exploring downtown and museums and dancing. I miss all of these things. I have been pushing myself in physical therapy once a week, because I cannot bear weight on my right foot, I am limited. My physical therapist recommends I come in twice a week but due to limitations on insurance, I can only come in once a week currently. I only have four sessions of physical therapy covered by insurance and will have to start paying fully out of pocket once those run up. And since I cannot currently work, paying for more physical therapy, especially once my doctor clears me to walk on my right foot again, is becoming difficult. I’ve used up all of my savings and need help paying house bills, my mortgage, medical bills, and for physical therapy.

One of my doctors says I may be off my foot for six more months. The infectious disease doctor and my primary doctor say that full recovery from osteomyelitis in my spine may take until next year. Things are up in the air until I finish the latest round of antibiotics and receive new spine and blood tests. I am asking for help because I wish to become healthy and live my old life again and contribute to society as I’ve done in the past.

The financial burden includes:

Emergency room and hospital test expenses

Surgical and specialist care

Long-term rehabilitation and physical therapy

Prescription medication

Lost wages

Basic living expenses

Asking for help has not been an easy task for me. My family always instilled values of hard work and perseverance in me. I’m proud of the things I’ve done in my life and the causes I have been able to rally for and the community I have been blessed with.

I truly appreciate any way you are able to help. If your help is sending prayers or words of encouragement, sharing my story with friends and family and on social media, or donating to my recovery, I am grateful for your kindness and spirit.