Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart, I would like to share some medical issues regarding my dad John Scott. My dad has always been a private person when it comes to his medical issues. He doesn’t let much out and I’m sure will be upset with me for sharing this. One thing I can say about my dad is he has always done anything he can to help someone regardless of their situation. For the last couple of months he has been at a very low point. Some know, but most probably don’t that my dad has lived with peripheral neuropathy since his early 20’s. He is not diabetic and has had every possible test or study done in hopes of finding a solution to either cure his neuropathy or decrease the effects it has on his body. He has never let it slow him down and has always done his part, regardless if it was at work or at home.

In June, he purchased a pair of shoes which were promoted for people suffering from neuropathy, doctors and nurses. He wore them for short periods of time to break them in over a couple of weeks. The first day he actually wore the shoes, after about 6 hours his feet began hurting severely. Horrible pain that was not normal for his condition. He removed the shoes and discovered blisters on the big toes, second toes and pads of upper feet. This was both feet and the blisters had rubbed, removing the skin from the top and exposing raw tissue. This is where the journey began. All he knew to do was treat them as normal blisters, cleaning them regularly and keeping medicated with medi-honey and wrapped. From the beginning my mom tried to get him to go to the doctor because she felt he needed antibiotics, but dad wouldn’t go, only saying they are blisters and will heal eventually. He went on with mom treating them from the beginning of July until roughly the middle of August when the top 1/4 of the second toe on his left foot came off. When this happened he decided to go to the hospital.

They were in Bangor Maine at the time he was hospitalized for around two weeks. He learned he had Osteomyelitis in both feet. He had surgery in Maine where they amputated part of his left foot and did surgery on the right foot because of the bone infections. They finally discharged him to come home where he would have IV antibiotics for 6 weeks or longer. When he got home he began the IV antibiotics and had wound care along with several doctor appointments. During the first couple of days of treatment, his feet began getting worse (the IV prescription was changed from what he was receiving at hospital) His doctor had already instructed him to go to the emergency room immediately if there was any change. He went to the ER in Brunswick where he sat for several hours waiting to be seen. During this time he was having chest pain along with the change in color with his toes. He and my mom decided to go to Memorial Hospital in Savannah. When they arrived at Memorial Hospital, he was seen immediately and they began treatment. With the chest pain his doctors were afraid the infection had entered his blood stream and affected his heart. They ran several test and treated the foot issues (still has osteomyelitis) He was there three days in the ER (no rooms were available, he was admitted into ER holding) where he was discharged and referred to infectious disease, cardiologist and vascular specialist in brunswick.

After follow up on Wednesday with wound care doctor , he was admitted to Brunswick Hospital for three more days where they finally have worked out the specifics of his antibiotic treatment. and deciding on whether or not to amputate right second toe and possibly left great toe. While there he had several more test performed. One being a Heart Cath. He luckily received great news that his heart was in good shape. He did however find out that he has severe emphysema in his lower lobes of lungs. He now has to follow up with pulmonologist for the emphysema and Rheumatologist who can determine if there is an autoimmune disease causing the neuropathy. He was discharged once again to continue IV infusions daily for the osteomyelitis, but now they have to amputate part of the right foot and do surgery again on the left foot possibly having to amputate more there as well. This should happen next week. He has a follow up appt with the surgeon on Thursday.

Dad has already lost a few weeks of work. He works for himself and doesn’t have insurance. He has worked all his life having insurance and never really needed it…and now this happens. He will be out of work for months, if he can ever go back. His bills are piling up as well as medical bills on top of normal living expenses. Who knows how long disability will take. He doesn’t express his feelings outward to anyone, but I know he is worrying about everything. We would appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers as he navigates the new normal.

To support him, you can donate or simply share this GoFundMe with your friends and family. Your support will help cover medical costs and provide much needed relief. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.

I know I speak on behalf of my parents when I say Thank You from the bottom of our hearts for any donation, thoughts, prayers, texts, meals etc. that have already been given. Thank you so much for your generosity, and for keeping our family especially my dad in your thoughts and prayers.