Patrick’s Journey: From Leg Removal to Broken Hip.

Hi, my name is Tia Johnston, daughter of Patrick Johnston, whom if you’re lucky, you know who I’m talking about.

My dad was diagnosed with diabetes and didn’t exactly take the appropriate precautions to prevent further damage to his body. With that being said, he developed neuropathy in his feet and legs. The one thing the doctors continuously recommended was propping his legs up. However, the pain was so unbearable to him that he slept sitting up on a barstool, leaning onto the counter, making matters worse. It was cutting off the blood flow, so the pain wasn’t as bad to him. He compared this pain to walking on hot asphalt barefoot in the summer. We spent weeks going to doctor appointments, wound care, hospital visits, etc., doing what we could to hopefully save his legs and, most importantly, save him. However, we weren’t that lucky. The infection had gotten into his bloodstream, causing sepsis. The infection had also gotten into his bones, leading him in the direction of death. We had a few hours to make a decision of taking both legs or allowing him to pass within 48 hours. He was mentally not with us at all at this moment, so we chose the route to keep him here with us. Which meant when he woke up, he had to come to the realization of what had just happened. An ear-piercing scream that I don’t think I will ever unhear. This leg removal meant years of living in a nursing facility where physical therapy and the appropriate help were available. My dad learned how to do life again, with no legs. He’s actually been thriving, doing life with no legs.

During the time of his hospital stay, before his leg removal, his current landlord was in touch and decided he wanted us to remove all of my dad’s belongings from the house to sell the home. Which also meant when my dad woke up and was able to go “home,” we had to tell him what had happened. He no longer had a “home.” Imagine losing your legs and your home all in the same 24 hours. Moving forward to a 2-year nursing home stay, my dad calls me one morning, fed up with the treatment he was receiving from the nursing home (he was probably giving them hell). He tells me he left the nursing home and he didn’t know where he was going, but he was not going back there… 3 days before Christmas. I had nothing for him. We were forced to make the decision of moving him into an apartment, which actually has worked out beautifully for him. He has done very well for himself up until now.

Wednesday morning, my dad called me to tell me he fell out of his chair. Praise God for Waveland Fire Department immediately coming to our rescue. He was sore and hurting, which was expected, so moving forward, I didn’t do much. Friday morning, he calls me again. He fell out of his chair. Again. Waveland Fire Department, again, was at the palm of my hands to help. I tried to call my dad’s doctor Friday, but they had closed early. Today, Monday, I was able to get in touch with them, and they recommended he go have some X-rays done.

X-ray reveals a broken hip, in which he will be going under emergency surgery first thing tomorrow morning.

Today, I am asking for the community’s help in making my dad more comfortable when he does arrive back at home from surgery, physically and financially. My dad is a Marine veteran, who is on a fixed income and does struggle month to month. This man gave me every single thing I wanted as a child, and it kills me to not be able to return that same thing to him.

If you can’t donate, that’s okay. ❤️ I just ask for the very best energy sent in our directions, prayers for comfort, guidance for his surgical team tomorrow, and a safe, successful surgery. Thank you for your time if you have made it this far.

-Tia Johnston.