Support Bob's Journey to Recovery and Strength

Life can change so fast, so unexpectedly. Ask Bob! Recently he had his right leg amputated above the knee due to a vascular disease called peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and diabetes. This affected the blood flow; causing him to spend 6 months at hospitals and 2 rehab facilities. It has been traumatizing for him. He is thin, weak, and totally lost his independence. He is 76 years old, while at home he's not a man of too many words but he loves to tell Dad jokes and sing made up songs from his childhood. He now seems increasingly withdrawn into himself, sometimes lost in a world of silence. Bob is my Dad. One of the nicest and sweetest guys you could meet. Whether he was delivering your mail, serving you a shot and a beer, or singing songs with his grandsons, he always had a smile on his face. He just hasn’t been himself for a while now. As a matter of fact, HE IS A DIFFERENT BOB TODAY! Not only is he experiencing the grief of losing his leg, but depression, anxiety, and the fear of any pain leaves him in tears and discouragement. We hate seeing him cry. The phantom pains are real. He gets pain in the leg that is no longer there. Dad is glad to be home, but my parents’ house is not handicap accessible and it’s making his journey to recovery that much more difficult. He moved to one of the downstairs bedrooms, but he needs a new bathroom with a stand-up, walk in shower with the appropriate bars and safety measures ASAP! My brother, uncle and nephews gutted the bathroom but now we need help with the remodeling. We all work hard in this crazy world, and we understand the difficulties in money donations. To be honest, any little bit helps and more importantly we would appreciate if anyone could volunteer their services to help us move fast. We are in need of the following: simple electrical work (install new exhaust vent, light switches and outlets), sheet rock, spackling, painting, plumbing, framing to put in a wider door, and extra supports to enforce handicap accessible handrails. As of right now, we are at a standstill and our hearts break with each passing day. We all want Dad to smile again, get stronger, hold himself up, feel better and master his prosthetic once he gets it. This will greatly help my Mom too. She has taken many days off from work to take him to the doctors, spend time with him in the hospital and take care of him at home. When family isn’t around to help, she is lifting him up herself and constantly hurting her back. It’s not easy for her to move around like she used to, and Dad cannot be left alone. It is physically, mentally and financially a burden on Dad and Mom. Everyone asks how they may help: please share this post and pray for Bob! (Our King Shmoe)

If you would like to send him a card of encouragement or visit to say hello, please reach out to me for details.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. On behalf of myself and my family we thank you in advance for your support.

Much love,

Jen