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Richard's Medical Bills

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My husband,  age 62, In mid-February 2017 my husband slid off the bed and took almost 30 minutes to get back up. Later that day he fell again and couldnt get up for 4 days (male ego, what can I say). We had no idea what was going on with him.  After some research we a glucose meter and his blood sugar was over 450! Up to this point we had no idea he was diabetic (Suprise! :( ) At this point his male ego caved in and let me call for an ambulance.

He was brought to the emergency room and was diagnosed with an infecction in his left foot complicated by diabeties.  After two surgeries to scrape and drain the infection the fourth toe developed gangrene and the the doctor had to amputate. During all of these surgeries the doctor said there was a 50/50 chance the whole foot would need to be amputated.

The night after the amputation the doctor informed him that  the whole foot would need to be amputed the next morning.

In a strange twist of fate, the doctor went home and passed out sick on his couch and did not come in the next morning. At this point the lead surgeon for the hospital put him on some "nuclear strength" antibiotics (doctor's word)/intravenous 24/7.

After after two days, the surgeon returned  He said during the amputation of the toe that he was digging pus out fo the leg10 inches deep and his white count was dangerously high (38.5) and thought there was no way to save the foot.  Between the course of antibotics had brought his white count down to 10.1 (normal) and his digging out of what was in the leg during the surgery. the surgeon had no reason to take the foot.

However the amputation left a open surgical wound 3 cm x 5 cm exposing the tendons and extending underneath them. This was from the necrotic tissue caused by the gangrene. He was in the surgical hospital for 19 days (Feb 20-March11 ,2017) and then was transfered to long term specialized wound care hospital. He was there for 67 days from March 11-May 16, 2017 until the tissue bed regrew enought for a skin graft to take.

Since then and ongoing has been recieving wound care at home three days a week since middle May and doctor visits every other week. The wound has healed nicely and he can walk an move about almost normally. Insurance has covered most of it but the deductibles and continued out of pocket expenses (prescription co-pays, not covered items) are still causing financial difficulties. These funds will help us get back on track while we preapre for his cataract surgery next month.

Thank you for reading and considering donating.

Mary Ann Paul

If anyone wants to see the photos of the actual foot, please ask, I'll send them over but they are kinda graphic and wasn't sure I should put them out for 'general' viewing.

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Donations 

  • Kirsten Eckert-Smith
    • $25 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Mary Ann Paul
Organizer
El Paso, TX

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