Recovery Journey for Hans

It wouldn’t be tradition if a Cookingham didn’t disappear for weeks or months at a time, just to pop back up in your life when you least expect it… and not without some wild stories to share. This one’s not for me though, this I’m sharing for my brother, Hans.

Throughout last fall, after working through what he thought was just a pulled tendon in his foot, or even a stress fracture, the pain became so severe and intolerable to the point he couldn't walk anymore. He called an ambulance as he couldn't safely drive. The EMT that came to see him noticed spots forming on his foot, and with the symptoms Hans was experiencing was indicating that he might be dealing with blood clots. The EMT was right.

Imaging revealed a massive clot in his femoral artery that had completely blocked blood flow to his right calf all the way down to his foot. More clots were found in his left leg and several smaller ones in his lungs. Over the course of the following 6 weeks it took two emergency thrombectomy procedures, an angiogram, an emergency artery bypass, amongst a few other procedures and complications, they cleared him of blood clots. Unfortunately, the trauma to the tissues leading to his foot from lack of oxygen and blood flow is what led to the amputation. After trying for weeks, his body just wasn't capable of regenerating the tissues and blood flow needed to save his foot. The safest and healthiest decision to prevent further damage and ensure the best recovery possible was to amputate below his knee.

So now, spirits are high; with a strong will, his medical team, and the support of friends and family, the long road to recovery will be manageable. The compounding medical bills and living expenses are piling up and will continue to do so until SSI services can be obtained.

It will be between 3-5 months at least until prosthetics can be made, delivered, and usable, and between 6 months to a year before rehabilitation for comfortable mobility is restored.

Between Kyle and I, we’ll be spending as much time as we can with Hans to help him with daily living needs, and assist him with obtaining services and medical coverages to get him through this. The next few months will be challenging, but we're hopeful.

We appreciate and thank everyone that is able to lend their support, whether that’s financial, sharing this fundraiser on socials, to sending kind words and well wishes, and bad jokes. Your love and support for Hans means the world to us.

We love you, Hans! We're gonna see this through together. Bangarang, dude!!