Kim's Prosthetic Leg Fund

My name is Taylor and I am starting a fundraiser for my sister, Kim, who has had an outdated prosthetic leg of about 5 years. My sister is in need of a prosthetic leg and is in ever going battle with her insurance to cover her leg. Kim is NOT considered disabled if she does not have a prosthetic.

Kim was just 4 years old when she lost her leg. She was riding along with her grandmother on a lawn mower when she fell off. The blades drew her in as her foot was mutilated. She was taken to a local children’s hospital where she was operated on, losing part of her right foot. Due to malpractice, her foot became infected with gangrene which resorted in multiple surgeries to clean and establish a functional limb for a prosthetic.

Because she came from a low-income family, she was covered by the state. Things changed for her as she became an adult, however. She was entirely responsible for covering the cost of any prosthetics over the age of 18. But just like a pair of new shoes, prosthetics get quite a bit of wear and tear through the years. The average replacement rate for prosthetic legs is every 3-5 years, with an average cost of 25K without insurance. Her current leg is almost 10 years old.

Kim underwent her first amputation, as a child, in 1996, which resulted in one of her growth plates being cut through. After 15 years, it got to the point where she was walking on bone. In 2012, Kim had undergone a revision surgery to her previous amputation due to a poor fitting prosthetic that progressed into an infection. What was initially supposed to be only 3 to 4 more inches of her limb removed, became about 8 inches. Kim had multiple complications with the revision and ended up in the hospital shortly after being discharged due to a staph infection called MRSA. She then had to go through various other surgeries to help remove the infection from her tissue and bone. Kim was in the hospital about 6 weeks, and had to have a PICC line for IV antibiotics for 3 months. She did not have insurance at the time to cover the cost of a new prosthetic and was forced to walk on crutches for months.

After becoming pregnant with her son, she was able to get state insurance which covered the cost of a new prosthetic. This. Is. The. Only. Way. She. Got. A. New. Leg.

Kim is a caretaker of not only her two children, but she is also a hospice nurse. As I stated above, Kim cannot file for disability if she is left without a leg. She is a caretaker for many, and I want to ensure that she is taken care of in return.

I am asking for any donations possible. She deserves everything and more. Despite the many setbacks she has endured, she is the most kind, giving, and compassionate human I have ever met. Please consider donating, I know it’s cliche to say but anything truly does help. Let’s ensure that Kim can continue to be a good mama to her kids and excel in her career as a hospice nurse.