My Brother Is In A Jam

Hi, my name is Mark. I have started this fundraising for my brother Ric (Fredric C.)  and his wife, Kathy. Ric is now 76 years old; Kathy is 64 years old. He has retired from an exciting and rewarding career in sales, though not always the most lucrative. She has retired from a full career in teaching. They have managed to make it out of these COVID Times barely in the black financially.

 

Now is where their story takes a darker downturn. Kathy has a highly compromised immune system as well as Ankylosing Spondylitis. Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic progressive degenerative bone disease. At 64, this has been far from getting any better and as by definition has been getting much, much worse. The highly compromised immune system has been kept somewhat stable with quarterly supplemental antibiotic infusions. The degenerative bone condition has led to multiple knees, wrist and elbow surgeries. The most recent and severe orthopedic and immune system hurricane started April of 2020.

 

Two years ago, Kathy took a bad step off of a curb and "twisted" her ankle. Soon after that, an orthopedic analysis found a break in the small lower bones of her ankle. These were first set, with various means of immobilization; casts, splints and boots, etc. These treatments failed and progressed to screws, plates, pins and a large rod. Kathy was immobilized throughout this process, losing muscle strength and condition. The treatments were all in the goal of saving her foot. This year, hoping to stand finally, she found herself with one leg 2" shorter than the other. Not so much to worry, an orthopedic lift would help solve that. After a couple of months into that solution, an infection developed around the rod extending up into her leg. This chapter of her "save the foot" infected ankle saga ended with amputation halfway between her ankle and knee May 18. After transfer to the rehab facility, her incessant cough has been finally diagnosed as COVID-19.

 

Back to the begining. Ric has been unemployed throughout this process with the pandemic isolation and protecting Kathy's fragile conditions at home with as many precautions as possible.

 

Now, with her amputation and frail condition, Ric must remodel the house to be wheelchair accessible, including doors, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and entry stairs. They do not have the finances to begin to undertake this project. They have both been active in their church and Ric has participated in regional housing rehabilitation projects. These connections have not been able to defray the high cost and effort they now find insurmountable.